Magnetic resonance imaging and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: Relative merits of left ventricular dyssynchrony and scar tissue

Aim To assess the relative value of a novel measure of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the extent of scar tissue for prediction of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).Methods and resultsThirty-five heart failure patients scheduled for CRT were included. Left ventricular dyssynchrony was defined as the standard deviation of 16 segment time-to-maximum radial wall thickness (SDt-16) obtained from a cine-set of short-axis slices. Delayed-enhanced MRI was performed for scar analysis. Echocardiography was used to determine response to CRT (reduction ≥15% in LV end-systolic volume 6 months after implantation). At follow-up, 21 patients (60%) were classified as responders. On MRI, SDt-16 was significantly higher in responders compared with non-responders (median 97 vs. 60 ms, P < 0.001), whereas the total extent of scar was larger in non-responders (median 35% vs. 3% in responders, P < 0.001). At the logistic regression analysis, SDt-16 was directly associated (OR = 6.3, 95% CI 3.1-9.9, P < 0.001) and the total extent of scar was inversely associated (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.43-0.87, P < 0.001) with response to CRT.ConclusionMagnetic resonance imaging offers the unique opportunity to assess LV dyssynchrony and scar extent in a single session. Both these parameters are important predictors of echocardiographic response to CRT.