Improved risk-stratification in heart failure patients with mid-range to severe abnormalities of QRS duration and systolic function using mechanical dyssynchrony assessed by myocardial perfusion-gated SPECT

For many with heart failure, including the elderly and those with a preserved ejection fraction, both risk stratification and treatment are challenging. For these large populations and others there is increasing recognition of the role of cardiac fibrosis in the pathophysiology of heart failure. Galectin-3 is a novel biomarker of fibrosis and cardiac remodelling that represents an intriguing link between inflammation and fibrosis. In this article we review the biology of galectin-3, recent clinical research and its application in the management of heart failure patients.

Download Full-text

Echocardiographic assessment of CRT candidates. Does it work equally well in intermediate QRS duration?

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0807 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

J Duchenne ◽

M Cvijic ◽

J.M Aalen ◽

C.K Larsen ◽

E Galli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Mechanical Dyssynchrony ◽

Public Institution ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization ◽

Funding Source ◽

Entire Study ◽

Qrs Duration ◽

Echocardiographic Assessment ◽

Echocardiographic Images ◽

Crt Response

Abstract Background The presence of mechanical dyssynchrony – such as apical rocking (ApRock) and septal flash (SF) – on echocardiography is associated with favourable outcome after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Myocardial scar on the other hand, has a considerable negative impact on CRT response. There is growing evidence that a visual echocardiographic assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony by ApRock, SF and scar predicts CRT response. Little is known however if this works equally well in patients with intermediate QRS duration (120–150ms), where guideline recommendation for CRT is weaker. Methods A total of 400 unselected patients referred for CRT, who fulfil the contemporary guidelines, were enrolled in this multicentre study. Echocardiographic images were visually assessed before CRT implantation, focussing on the presence of ApRock, SF and location and extent of scar segments in the left ventricle (LV), resulting in a CRT response prediction (i.e. Reader Interpretation). Readers were blinded to all patient information other than ischaemic aetiology of heart failure. CRT response was defined as ≥15% reduction in LV end-systolic volume on echocardiography, on average 15 months after device implantation. Results Overall, 321 (80%) patients had a left bundle branch block (LBBB), with an average QRS duration of 166±25ms. Ischemic aetiology of heart failure was found in 131 (33%) patients. Before CRT, ApRock and SF were present in 254 (64%) and 244 (61%) patients, respectively. ApRock and SF alone predicted CRT response with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74–0.84) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.73–0.83) (Figure A), while the echocardiographic Reader Interpretation had an AUC of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81–0.89), with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% for the prediction of CRT response (Figure B) (p<0.0001 vs. ApRock and SF alone). A total of 92 patients had a QRS duration of 120–150ms, and 48 of them responded to CRT. In these patients, the AUC of Reader Interpretation was comparable to that of the entire study cohort [0.83 (95% CI: 0.75–0.92)], as was sensitivity and specificity (90% and 79%, respectively, p=0.717 vs. the AUC of the entire cohort) (Figure C). Conclusions A visual assessment of LV function, by means of mechanical dyssynchrony and scar, has an excellent predictive value for CRT response, and requires only apical echocardiographic images. Responders were identified equally well in the challenging subgroup of patients with a QRS duration of 120–150 ms. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): KU Leuven

Download Full-text

The prognostic significance of cardiac sympathetic activity and dyssynchrony in cardiac resynchronization therapy in ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure patients

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jeaa356.335 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

A Mishkina ◽

K Zavadovsky ◽

V Saushkin ◽

D Lebedev ◽

Y Lishmanov

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ◽

Sympathetic Activity ◽

Gated Spect ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization ◽

Resynchronization Therapy ◽

Cardiac Sympathetic Activity ◽

Heart Failure Patients ◽

Crt Response

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Russian Foundation for Basic Research Introduction Impaired cardiac sympathetic activity and contractility are associated with poor prognosis in patients with heart failure after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). There are few prognostic data of the cardiac sympathetic activity and dyssynchrony in patients with chronic heart failure of various etiologies. Purpose To examine the prognostic significance of scintigraphic cardiac sympathetic activity and contractility in predicting the response to CRT and to assess the differences between patients with ischemic (IHF) and non-ischemic (NIHF) heart failure. Methods This study included 38 heart failure patients (24 male; mean age of 56 ± 11 years; 16 patients with ischemic etiology), who were submitted to CRT. Before CRT all patients underwent 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) imaging for cardiac sympathetic activity evaluating: early and delay heart to mediastinum ratio (eH/M and dH/M), summed MIBG Score (eSMS and dSMS). Moreover all patients underwent gated SPECT with the assessments of left ventricle dyssynchrony indexes: standard deviation (SD) and histogram bandwidth (HBW). In addition, all patients underwent gated blood-pool SPECT (GBPS) to assessed ejection fraction (EF) and stroke volume (SV) of both ventricles. Results One year after CRT response defined as LV ESV decreased by≥15% and/or LV EF increase by≥5%. Baseline cardiac sympathetic activity parameters showed significant differences between responders and non-responders only in NIHF patients: eH/M: 2.27 (2.02–2.41) vs. 1.64 (1.32–2.16); dH/M: 2.18 (2.11–2.19) vs. 1.45 (1.23 – 1.61); eSMS: 7 (5-7) vs. 15.5 (10–28.5); dSMS: 10 (10–13) vs. 16.5 (15.5–29). Significant differences in baseline LV dyssynchrony indexes between responders and non-responders were in patients of both group: in NIHF patients - SD: 54.3 (43–58) degree vs. 65 (62–66) degree; HBW: 179.5 (140–198) degree vs. 211 (208-213) degree, p < 0.054 in IHF patients - HBW: 162 (115.2–180) degree vs. 115.2 (79.2–136.8) degree. Contractility of RV was significantly differed between responders and non-responders in IHF patients: RV EF: 54.5 (41-56) % vs. 44.5 (37–49.5) %; RV SV: 80 (69-101) ml vs. 55.5 (50–72.5) ml. According to univariate logistic regression analyses in IHF patients LV dyssynchrony indexes – SD (OR = 1.55; 95% CI 1.09-2.2; p < 0.5) and HBW (OR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.24; p < 0.5), as well as RV indexes – RV EF (OR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.001-1.23; p < 0.5), RV SV (OR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.003-1.138; p < 0.5) were predictors of CRT response. In the group of NIHF patients, dH/M (OR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.08-2; p < 0.5), SD (OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.73-0.95; p < 0.5), HBW (OR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.99; p < 0.5) showed the predictive value in terms of CRT response. Conclusion Scintigraphic methods can be used to select patients for CRT. Cardiac 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and gated SPECT may be used for predicting CRT response in NIHF patients. Whereas in IHF patients ECG-gated SPECT and GBPS may be valuable for predicting the response to CRT.

Download Full-text

The use of mechanical dyssynchrony for predicting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jeaa356.351 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

V Saushkin ◽

YV Varlamova ◽

AI Mishkina ◽

DI Lebedev ◽

SV Popov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Myocardial Perfusion ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ◽

Ischemic Cardiomyopathy ◽

Gated Spect ◽

Mechanical Dyssynchrony ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Cardiac Resynchronization ◽

Resynchronization Therapy ◽

Crt Response

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Aim/Introduction: Assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony by myocardial perfusion gated-SPECT in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy for predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Materials and Methods We examined 32 patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy before and six months after CRT. Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony and contractility were assessed for all patients by myocardial perfusion gated-SPECT. The phase standard deviation (PSD), histogram bandwidth (HBW), phase histogram skewness (S) and phase histogram kurtosis (K) were used as an indicator of mechanical dyssynchrony for the both ventricles. Results Mechanical dyssynchrony of both ventricles before CRT was increased in all patients. Median value PSD 53°(41-61°), HBW 176°(136-202°), S 1,62(1,21-1,89), K 2,81(1,21-3,49). Six months after CRT 22(68%) respondents were identified. We divided the patients into two groups (responders and non-responders) and compared phase parameters. It was found that the PSD (44°(35-54°)) and HBW (158°(118-179°) in the responders were significantly lower than in the non-responders (PSD (68°(58-72°); HBW (205°(199-249°)). The value of phase histogram skewness and kurtosis in responders were significantly higher (Responders: S 1,77(1,62-2,02); K 3,03(2,60-3,58). Non-responders: S 1,21(0,93-1,31); K 1,21(0,19-1,46)). We found that all four indicators of mechanical dyssynchrony can predict CRT response according to the results of univariate logistic regression analysis. Moreover, It was found that only phase histogram kurtosis (OR = 1.196, 95% CI 1.04-1.37) is an independent predictor of CRT response according to multivariate logistic regression. Conclusion Radionuclide assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony may be the optimal diagnostic method for selecting patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy on CRT.

Download Full-text