Acute and chronic effects of cardiac resynchronization in patients developing heart failure with long-term pacemaker therapy for acquired complete atrioventricular block.

Abstract

AIMS:

We assessed the effects of cardiac re-synchronization therapy (CRT) in patients who developed otherwise unexplained heart failure (HF) during right ventricular apical (RVA)-pacing for acquired complete atrioventricular block (CAVB).

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Eighteen consecutive CAVB patients with HF during RVA-pacing were assessed with haemodynamic studies immediately and 12 months after CRT-upgrade. Ten patients had idiopathic CAVB and 13 showed normal left ventricular (LV) function at RVA-pacemaker implantation. HF developed after 81 +/- 10 months. RVA-pacing duration correlated (r = 0.49, P < 0.05) with LV ejection fraction (LVEF) deterioration. Biventricular- (BiV) and LV-pacing acutely improved the systolic function comparably, but only BiV improved diastolic function. One-year post-CRT-initiation, New York Heart Association classification improved 35 +/- 3% (P < 0.05) and the number of hospitalizations decreased 85 +/- 3% (P < 0.0001). CRT decreased LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) 7 +/- 2% (P < 0.01) and increased LVEF by 23 +/- 7% (P < 0.01). The CRT-induced reduction in LVEDd tended to be greater in patients with RVA-pacing for < 5 years vs. > 5 years (7.7 +/- 2.5 vs. 3.6 +/- 1.0 mm, P = 0.08).

CONCLUSION:

CRT-upgrade improves the cardiac function and symptoms in CAVB patients with HF progression related to RVA-pacing. Because adverse LV-remodelling may be partly irreversible, consideration should be given to BiV- and LV-pacing upgrade as soon as possible after the indications appear, and prospective studies of the optimal timing of CRT-upgrade may be useful.

• Authors: Masayuki Shimano, Yukiomi Tsuji, Yukihiko Yoshida, Yasuya Inden, Naoya Tsuboi, Teruo Itoh, Hirohiko Suzuki, Takashi Muramatsu, Taro Okada, Shuji Harata, Takumi Yamada, Haruo Hirayama, Stanley Nattel, Toyoaki Murohara
• Journal: Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology (Europace) Vol. 9 Issue 10 Pg. 869-74 (Oct 2007) ISSN: 1099-5129 [Print] England
• PMID: 17557768 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Atrioventricular Block (therapy)
• Cardiac Pacing, Artificial (methods)
• Heart (physiology)
• Heart Conduction System
• Heart Failure (therapy)
• Heart Ventricles
• Hemodynamics
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Pacemaker, Artificial
• Reproducibility of Results
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome