http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/17042/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/24399/ 2009-02-10T00:00:00Z Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relation between the extent of left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling and clinical/echocardiographic improvement after 6 months of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) as well as long-term outcome. Background: Despite the current selection criteria, individual response to CRT varies significantly. Furthermore, it has been suggested that reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) after CRT is related to outcome. Methods: A total of 302 CRT candidates were included. Clinical status and echocardiographic evaluation were performed before implantation and after 6 months of CRT. Long-term follow-up included all-cause mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure. Results: Based on different extents of LV reverse remodeling, 22% of patients were classified as super-responders (decrease in LVESV ≥30%), 35% as responders (decrease in LVESV 15% to 29%), 21% as nonresponders (decrease in LVESV 0% to 14%), and 22% negative responders (increase in LVESV). More extensive LV reverse remodeling resulted in more clinical improvement, with a larger increase in LV function and more reduction in mitral regurgitation. In addition, more LV reverse remodeling resulted in less heart failure hospitalizations and lower mortality during long-term follow-up (22 ± 11 months); 1- and 2-year hospitalization-free survival rates were 90% and 70% in the negative responder group compared with 98% and 96% in the super-responder group (log-rank p value <0.001). Conclusions: The extent of LV reverse remodeling at midterm follow-up is predictive for long-term outcome in CRT patients. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/14657/ 2008-10-21T00:00:00Z Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate echocardiographic parameters after 6 months of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) as well as long-term outcome in patients with the left ventricular (LV) lead positioned at the site of latest activation (concordant LV lead position) as compared with that seen in patients with a discordant LV lead position. Background: A nonoptimal LV pacing lead position may be a potential cause for nonresponse to CRT. Methods: The site of latest mechanical activation was determined by speckle tracking radial strain analysis and related to the LV lead position on chest X-ray in 244 CRT candidates. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed after 6 months. Long-term follow-up included all-cause mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure. Results: Significant LV reverse remodeling (reduction in LV end-systolic volume from 189 ± 83 ml to 134 ± 71 ml, p < 0.001) was noted in the group of patients with a concordant LV lead position (n = 153, 63%), whereas patients with a discordant lead position showed no significant improvements. In addition, during long-term follow-up (32 ± 16 months), less events (combined for heart failure hospitalizations and death) were reported in patients with a concordant LV lead position. Moreover, a concordant LV lead position appeared to be an independent predictor of hospitalization-free survival after long-term CRT (hazard ratio: 0.22, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Pacing at the site of latest mechanical activation, as determined by speckle tracking radial strain analysis, resulted in superior echocardiographic response after 6 months of CRT and better prognosis during long-term follow-up. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/29185/ 2008-03-01T00:00:00Z http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/29314/ 2008-03-01T00:00:00Z Aims: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between the presence of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony at baseline and acute vs. late improvement in mitral regurgitation (MR) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Methods and results: Sixty eight patients consecutive (LV ejection fraction 23 ± 8%) with at least moderate MR (≥grade 2+) were included. Echocardiography was performed at baseline, 1 day after CRT initiation and at 6 months follow-up. Speckle tracking radial strain was used to assess LV dyssynchrony at baseline. The majority of patients improved in MR after CRT, with 43% improving immediately after CRT, and 20% improving late (after 6 months) after CRT. Early and late responders had similar extent of LV dyssynchrony (209 ± 115 ms vs. 190 ± 118 ms, P = NS); however, the site of latest activation in early responders was mostly inferior or posterior (adjacent to the posterior papillary muscle), whereas the lateral wall was the latest activated segment in late responders. Conclusion: Current data suggest that the presence of baseline LV dyssynchrony is related to improvement in MR after CRT. LV dyssynchrony involving the posterior papillary muscle may lead to an immediate reduction in MR, whereas LV dyssynchrony in the lateral wall resulted in late response to CRT. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/36172/ 2007-10-16T00:00:00Z Objectives: We sought to identify predictors of left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction. Background: Left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction is associated with an adverse long-term prognosis. Early identification of patients prone to LV remodeling is needed to optimize therapeutic management. Methods: A total of 178 consecutive patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Within 48 h of intervention, 2-dimensional echocardiography was performed to assess LV volumes, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), wall motion score index, left atrial dimension, E/E′ ratio, and severity of mitral regurgitation. Left ventricular dyssynchrony was determined using speckle-tracking radial strain analysis. At 6-month follow-up, LV volumes, LVEF, and severity of mitral regurgitation were reassessed. Results: Patients showing LV remodeling at 6-month follow-up (20%) had comparable baseline characteristics to patients without LV remodeling (80%), except for higher peak troponin T levels (p < 0.001), peak creatine phosphokinase levels (p < 0.001), wall motion score index (p < 0.05), E/E′ ratio (p < 0.05), and a larger extent of LV dyssynchrony (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that LV dyssynchrony was superior in predicting LV remodeling. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that a cutoff value of 130 ms for LV dyssynchrony yields a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 95% to predict LV remodeling at 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Left ventricular dyssynchrony immediately after acute myocardial infarction predicts LV remodeling at 6-month follow-up. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/36184/ 2007-09-18T00:00:00Z Objectives: Speckle-tracking strain analysis was used to assess the effects of permanent right ventricular (RV) pacing on the heterogeneity in timing of regional wall strain and left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony. Background: Recent studies have shown detrimental effects of RV pacing, possibly related to the induction of LV dyssynchrony. Methods: Fifty-eight patients treated with His bundle ablation and pacemaker implantation were studied. To assess the effect of RV pacing on time-to-peak radial strain of different LV segments, we applied speckle-tracking analysis to standard LV short-axis images. In addition, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, LV volumes, and systolic function were assessed at baseline and after long-term RV pacing. Results: At baseline, similar time-to-peak strain for the 6 segments was observed (mean 371 ± 114 ms). In contrast, after a mean of 3.8 ± 2.0 years of RV pacing, there was a marked heterogeneity in time-to-peak strain of the 6 segments. In 33 patients (57%), LV dyssynchrony, represented by a time difference ≥130 ms between the time-to-peak strain of the (antero)septal and the posterolateral segments, was present. In these patients, a deterioration of LV systolic function and NYHA functional class was observed. In 11 patients, an "upgrade" of the conventional pacemaker to a biventricular pacemaker resulted in partial reversal of the detrimental effects of RV pacing. Conclusions: Speckle-tracking analysis revealed that permanent RV pacing induced heterogeneity in time-to-peak strain, resulting in LV dyssynchrony in 57% of patients, associated with deterioration of LV systolic function and NYHA functional class. Biventricular pacing may reverse these adverse effects of RV pacing. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/36984/ 2007-09-01T00:00:00Z Background: Reverse remodeling of the left ventricle (LV) is one of the advantageous mechanisms of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Substantial LV dyssynchrony seems mandatory for echocardiographic response to CRT. Conversely, LV dyssynchrony early after acute myocardial infarction may result in LV dilatation during follow-up. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between LV dyssynchrony early after acute myocardial infarction and the occurrence of long-term LV dilatation. Methods: A total of 124 consecutive patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Within 48 hours of intervention, two-dimensional echocardiography was performed to assess LV volumes, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and wall motion score index (WMSI). LV dyssynchrony was quantified using color-coded tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). At 6-month follow-up, LV volumes and LVEF were reassessed. Results: Patients with substantial LV dyssynchrony (≥65 ms) at baseline (18%) had comparable baseline characteristics to patients without substantial LV dyssynchrony (82%), except for a higher prevalence of multivessel coronary artery disease (P = .019), higher WMSI (P = .042), and higher peak levels of creatine phosphokinase (P = .021). During 6 months of follow-up, 91% of the patients with substantial LV dyssynchrony at baseline developed LV remodeling, compared with 2% in the patients without substantial LV dyssynchrony. LV dyssynchrony at baseline was strongly related to the extent of long-term LV dilatation at 6 months of follow-up. Conclusion: Most patients with substantial LV dyssynchrony immediately after acute myocardial infarction develop LV dilatation during 6 months of follow-up. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/36211/ 2007-04-24T00:00:00Z Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) (GMPS) and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Background: Recently, it has been suggested that LV dyssynchrony is an important predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT); dyssynchrony is predominantly assessed by TDI with echocardiography. Information on LV dyssynchrony can also be provided by GMPS with phase analysis of regional LV maximal count changes throughout the cardiac cycle, which tracks the onset of LV thickening. Methods: In 75 patients with heart failure, depressed LV function, and wide QRS complex, GMPS and 2-dimensional echocardiography, including TDI, were performed as part of clinical screening for eligibility for CRT. Clinical status was evaluated with New York Heart Association functional classification, 6-min walk distance, and quality-of-life score. Different parameters (histogram bandwidth, phase SD, histogram skewness, and histogram kurtosis) of LV dyssynchrony were assessed from GMPS and compared with LV dyssynchrony on TDI with Pearson's correlation analyses. Results: Histogram bandwidth and phase SD correlated well with LV dyssynchrony assessed with TDI (r = 0.89, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.80, p < 0.0001, respectively). Histogram skewness and kurtosis correlated less well with LV dyssynchrony on TDI (r = -0.52, p < 0.0001 and r = -0.45, p < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: The LV dyssynchrony assessed from GMPS correlated well with dyssynchrony assessed by TDI; histogram bandwidth and phase SD showed the best correlation with LV dyssynchrony on TDI. These parameters seem most optimal for assessment of LV dyssynchrony with gated SPECT. Outcome studies after CRT are needed to further validate the use of GMPS for assessment of LV dyssynchrony. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/35644/ 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z M-mode echocardiography (using the septal-to-posterior wall motion delay [SPWMD]) and color-coded tissue Doppler imaging (TDI; using the septal-to-lateral delay in peak systolic velocity) have been proposed for assessment of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony and prediction of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In this study, a head-to-head comparison between M-mode echocardiography and color-coded TDI was performed for assessment of LV dyssynchrony and prediction of response to CRT. Consecutive (n = 98) patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association class III/IV), LV ejection fraction ≤35%, and QRS duration >120 ms underwent CRT. Before pacemaker implantation, LV dyssynchrony was assessed by M-mode echocardiography (SPWMD) and color-coded TDI (septal-to-lateral delay). At baseline and 6 months after implantation, clinical and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. SPWMD measurement was not feasible in 41% of patients due to akinesia of the septal and/or posterior walls or poor acoustic windows. Conversely, the septal-to-lateral delay could be assessed in 96% of patients. At 6-month follow-up, 75 patients (77%) were classified as responders to CRT (improvement ≥1 New York Heart Association class). The sensitivity and specificity of SPWMD were lower compared with those of septal-to-lateral delay (66% vs 90%, p <0.05; 50% vs 82%, p = NS, respectively). In conclusion, LV dyssynchrony assessment was feasible in 59% of patients with M-mode echocardiography compared with 96% (p <0.05) when color-coded TDI was used. Color-coded TDI was superior to M-mode echocardiography for prediction of response to CRT. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/35872/ 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z Aims: At present, 20-30% of patients do not respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In this study, the relation between the extent of viable myocardium and scar tissue vs. response to CRT was evaluated. In addition, the presence of scar tissue in the left ventricular (LV) lead position was specifically related to response to CRT. Methods and results: A total of 51 consecutive patients with ischaemic heart failure and substantial LV dyssynchrony undergoing CRT were included. All patients underwent gated SPECT before CRT implantation to determine the extent of scar tissue and viable myocardium. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of CRT. The results demonstrated direct relations between the response to CRT and the extent of viable myocardium and scar tissue. In addition, the 15 patients (29%) with transmural scar tissue (< 50% tracer activity) in the region of the LV pacing lead showed no improvement after 6 months of CRT. Conclusion: The extent of scar tissue and viable myocardium were directly related to the response to CRT. Furthermore, scar tissue in the LV pacing lead region may prohibit response to CRT. Evaluation for viability and scar tissue may be considered in the selection process for CRT.