84 Left atrial reverse remodelling in dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract Aims Left atrial (LA) dilation is associated a with worse prognosis in several cardiovascular settings but therapies can promote LA reverse remodelling. Characterizing and defining the prognostic implications of LA volume (LAVI) reduction in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods and results Consecutive DCM patients from two tertiary care centres, with available echocardiography at baseline and at 1 year follow-up, were analysed. LA dilation was defined as LAVI >34 ml/m2, Delta (Δ)LAVI was defined as the 1 year relative LAVI reduction. The outcome was a composite of death/heart transplantation/heart failure hospitalization (D/HTx/HFH). Five hundred sixty patients were included [age 52 ± 13 years; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 31 ± 10%, LAVI 45 ± 18 ml/m2]. Baseline LAVI had a non-linear association with the risk of D/HTx/HFH, independently from LVEF (P < 0.001). At 1 year follow-up, LAVI decreased in 374 patients (67%, median ΔLAVI 24%, interquartile range 37% 11%). Factors independently associated with ΔLAVI were higher baseline LAVI and lower baseline LVEF. After adjustment for confounders, ΔLAVI showed a linear association with the risk of D/HTx/HHF (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86 0.99 per 5% decrease, P < 0.001). At 1 year Follow-up, patients with a ≥ 15% reduction in ΔLAVI or LAVI normalization (i.e. Follow-up LAVI ≤34ml/m2) (42% of the cohort) were at lower risk of D/HTx/HFH (HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.33 0.74, P < 0.001). Conclusions In a large cohort of DCM, 1 year reduction in LAVI is observed in the majority of patients. The association between reduction in LAVI and D/HTx/HHF candidates LA reverse remodelling as complementary early therapeutic goal in DCM.

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Clinical Determinants and Prognosis of Left Ventricular Reverse Remodelling in Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease ◽

10.3390/jcdd9010020 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 20

Author(s):

Carles Díez-López ◽

Joel Salazar-Mendiguchía ◽

Elena García-Romero ◽

Lara Fuentes ◽

Josep Lupón ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Systolic Dysfunction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Prognostic Impact ◽

Clinical Predictors ◽

Treatment Optimization ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Reverse Remodelling

Aims: Non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) is characterized by left ventricular (LV) chamber enlargement and systolic dysfunction in the absence of coronary artery disease. Left ventricular reverse remodelling (LVRR) is the ability of a dilated ventricle to restore its normal size, shape and function. We sought to determine the frequency, clinical predictors and prognostic implications of LVRR, in a cohort of heart failure (HF) patients with NIDCM. Methods: We conducted a multicentre observational, retrospective cohort study of patients with NIDCM, with prospective serial echocardiography evaluations. LVRR was defined as an increase of ≥15% in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or as a LVEF increase ≥ 10% plus reduction of LV end-systolic diameter index ≥ 20%. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify the baseline clinical predictors of LVRR and evaluate the prognostic impact of LVRR. Results: LVRR was achieved in 42.5% of 527 patients with NIDCM during the first year of follow-up (median LVEF 49%, median change +22%), Alcoholic aetiology, HF duration, baseline LVEF and the absence of LBBB (plus NT-proBNP levels when in the model), were the strongest predictors of LVRR. During a median follow-up of 47 months, 134 patients died (25.4%) and 7 patients (1.3%) received a heart transplant. Patients with LVRR presented better outcomes, regardless of other clinical conditions. Conclusions: In patients with NIDCM, LVRR was frequent and was associated with improved prognosis. Major clinical predictors of LVRR were alcoholic cardiomyopathy, absence of LBBB, shorter HF duration, and lower baseline LVEF and NT-proBNP levels. Our study advocates for clinical phenotyping of non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy and intense gold-standard treatment optimization of patients according to current guidelines and recommendations in specialized HF units.

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Arrhythmic risk stratification in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy beyond ejection fraction

Heart ◽

10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315942 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 106 (9) ◽

pp. 656-664 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Antonio Cannatà ◽

Giulia De Angelis ◽

Andrea Boscutti ◽

Camilla Normand ◽

Jessica Artico ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ejection Fraction ◽

Risk Stratification ◽

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Magnetic Resonance Parameters ◽

Reverse Remodelling ◽

Life Threatening

Sudden cardiac death and arrhythmia-related events in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM) have been significantly reduced over the last couple of decades as a result of evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, the arrhythmic stratification in patients with NICM remains extremely challenging, and the simple indication based on left ventricular ejection fraction appears to be insufficient. Therefore, clinicians need to go beyond the current criteria for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in the direction of a multiparametric evaluation of arrhythmic risk. Several parameters for arrhythmic risk stratification, ranging from electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, imaging-derived and genetic markers, are crucial for proper arrhythmic risk stratification and a multiparametric evaluation of risk in patients with NICM. In particular, integration of cardiac magnetic resonance parameters (mostly late gadolinium enhancement) and specific genetic information (ie, presence of LMNA, PLN, FLNC mutations) appears fundamental for proper implementation of the current arrhythmic risk stratification. Finally, a novel approach focused on both arrhythmic risk and prediction of left ventricular reverse remodelling during follow-up might be useful for effective multiparametric and dynamic arrhythmic risk stratification in NICM. In the future, a complete and integrated evaluation might be mandatory to implement arrhythmic risk prediction in patients with NICM and to discriminate the competing risk between heart failure-related events and life-threatening arrhythmias.

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Comparison of ventricular tachyarrhythmia recurrence between ischemic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5312 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5312 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chih-Yuan Fang ◽

Huang-Chung Chen ◽

Yung-Lung Chen ◽

Tzu-Hsien Tsai ◽

Kuo-Li Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Prevention ◽

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Cardiovascular Mortality ◽

Ischemic Cardiomyopathy ◽

Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

All Cause Mortality

BackgroundThe use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been established as an effective secondary prevention strategy for ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF). However, few reports discuss the difference in clinical predictors for recurrent VT/VF between patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).MethodsFrom May 2004 to December 2015, 132 consecutive patients who had ICM (n= 94) or DCM (n= 38) and had received ICD implantation for secondary prevention were enrolled in this study. All anti-tachycardia events during follow-up were validated. The clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters were obtained for comparison. The incidence of recurrence of VT/VF, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, the change of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV volume were analyzed.ResultsAt a mean follow-up of 3.62 ± 2.93 years, 34 patients (36.2%) in the ICM group and 22 patients (57.9%) in the DCM group had a recurrence of VT/VF episodes (p= 0.032). The DCM group had a lower LVEF (p= 0.019), a larger LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) (p= 0.001), a higher prevalence of LVEDV >158 mL (p= 0.010), and a larger LV end-systolic volume (p= 0.010) than the ICM group. LVEDV >158 mL and no use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker were independent predictors of recurrences of VT/VF in ICM patients but not in DCM patients. There were no difference in cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality between the ICM and DCM patients.ConclusionThe DCM patients had a higher recurrence rate of VT/VF than did the ICM patients during long-term follow-up. An enlarged LV is an independent predictor of the recurrence of VT/VF in ICM patients receiving ICD for secondary prevention.

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85 Diuretics trajectories in dilated cardiomyopathy

European Heart Journal Supplements ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/suab139.026 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽

Author(s):

Vincenzo Nuzzi ◽

Antonio Cannatà ◽

Paolo Manca ◽

Caterina Gregorio ◽

Giulia Barbati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Nyha Class ◽

Diuretic Therapy ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Equivalent Dose ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Class Iii ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Kaplan Meier

Abstract Aims Diuretics in heart failure (HF) are commended to relieve symptoms at lowest dosage effective. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a particular HF setting with several variables that may influence disease trajectory. We aimed to assess the long-term use of diuretics in DCM, the possibility of withdrawal and to explore the prognostic correlations. Methods and results All consecutive DCM patients enrolled from 1990 to 2018 were considered eligible. All the patients had available the information about the furosemide-equivalent dose at baseline and at follow-up evaluation within 24 months. Patients were categorized in stable (diuretic dose variation <50%), increasers (diuretics dose increase ≥50% or initiation of diuretic therapy), and decreasers (diuretics dose decrease ≥50% or never prescribed diuretics in the 24-months observation period). The prognostic role of the diuretics trajectory group was assessed with Kaplan Meier analysis and with a time-dependent multivariable model. The outcome measure was a composite of all-cause death/heart transplantation/HF hospitalization (ACD/HTx/HFH). 908 patients were included [mean age 50 ± 16, 70% male sex, 24% NYHA class III or IV, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 31 ± 9%, 66% treated with diuretics at baseline]. The furosemide-equivalent dose at enrolment had a linear association with the risk of outcome. Compared to other groups, decreaser patients were younger, had less HF symptoms, higher LVEF and more dilated left atrium. Decreasers had a lower prescription rate of diuretics and less frequent indication to renin-angiotensin inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptors antagonists. Over a median follow-up of 122 (62–195) months decreasers had the lowest incidence of outcome, followed by stable, while increasers had the worst outcome (P < 0.001). After adjustment for other prognosticators, compared to stable patients, decreasers had a reduced risk of ACD/HTx/HFH [HR: 0.497 (95% CI: 0.337–0.731)] while increasers had the highest risk of adverse outcome [HR: 2.027 (95% CI: 1.254–3.276)]. Similarly, amongst patients taking diuretics at baseline, the diuretics withdrawal was in independent outcome predictor. The only multivariable predictors of diuretics withdrawal were younger age and lower furosemide-equivalent dose at enrolment. Conclusions In DCM patients the diuretics dose at baseline is a strong prognosticator. Diuretics dose reduction or its withdrawal provides a prognostic benefit on hard outcome. Diuretics tapering in selected patients should be considered in the short-term follow-up to improve DCM prognosis.

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Anthracycline associated cardiotoxicity in a sub-Saharan African population - tertiary care experience

10.21203/rs.3.rs-17301/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph Odunga Abuodha ◽

Asim Jamal Shaikh ◽

Jasmit Shah ◽

Mohamed Jeilan ◽

Anders Barasa

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Dysfunction ◽

Standard Dose ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

African Population ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Anthracyclines are associated with irreversible cardiotoxicity, with changes in echocardiographic parameters preceding clinically manifest cardiac dysfunction. We sought to evaluate the incidence of early cardiac dysfunction post anthracyclines, and associated clinical, echocardiographic and treatment parameters in a sub-Saharan African population. Methods Cancer patients aged ≥18years at anthracycline initiation with archived baseline echocardiograms, underwent repeat echocardiographic assessment. Cases (with cardiac dysfunction) had (1) >15% relative decline from baseline in global longitudinal strain (GLS), or (2) a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline to <53% with either (i) symptoms (assessed by the Duke Activity Status Index at follow-up echocardiogram) and LVEF decline by >5 to ≤10%, or (ii) LVEF decline >10% regardless of symptoms. Comparisons in clinical, echocardiographic and treatment parameters were made with controls (no cardiac dysfunction). Results Among 141 patients (mean age, 47.7years ± 11.2, Africans 95%, females 85.1%, breast cancer 82%), 39 (27.7%) had cardiac dysfunciton at a mean inter-echocardiogram interval of 14.9months ± 14.3, mean cumulative anthracycline dose of 244.7mg/m 2 ± 72.2, and mean DASI score was 50.0 ± 13.3. Mean cardiotoxic doxorubicin equivalence dose was 236.7mg/m 2 ± 57.4 for cases and 217.3 ± 61.9 for controls [p = 0.033, OR = 1.00 (95% CI: 0.99 - 1.01)]. The assessed clinical, echocardiographic and treatment parameters were not associated with cardiac dysfunction. Conclusion Incidence of early cardiac dysfunction after standard dose anthracyclines in an adult Sub-Saharan population is 27.7% at a mean follow-up of 14.9 months post anthracycline. Routine pre- and post-exposure cardiac assessment should be considered.

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Prognostic significance of longitudinal strain in dilated cardiomyopathy with recovered ejection fraction

Heart ◽

10.1136/heartjnl-2021-319504 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. heartjnl-2021-319504

Author(s):

Marco Merlo ◽

Marco Masè ◽

Andrew Perry ◽

Eluisa La Franca ◽

Elena Deych ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ejection Fraction ◽

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Longitudinal Strain ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Risk Of Death

ObjectivePatients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NICM) may experience a normalisation in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Although this correlates with improved prognosis, it does not correspond to a normalisation in the risk of death during follow-up. Currently, there are no tools to risk stratify this population. We tested the hypothesis that absolute global longitudinal strain (aGLS) is associated with mortality in patients with NICM and recovered ejection fraction (LVEF).MethodsWe designed a retrospective, international, longitudinal cohort study enrolling patients with NICM with LVEF <40% improved to the normal range (>50%). We studied the relationship between aGLS measured at the time of the first recording of a normalised LVEF and all-cause mortality during follow-up. We considered aGLS >18% as normal and aGLS ≥16% as of potential prognostic value.Results206 patients met inclusion criteria. Median age was 53.5 years (IQR 44.3–62.8) and 56.6% were males. LVEF at diagnosis was 32.0% (IQR 24.0–38.8). LVEF at the time of recovery was 55.0% (IQR 51.7–60.0). aGLS at the time of LVEF recovery was 13.6%±3.9%. 166 (80%) and 141 (68%) patients had aGLS ≤18% and <16%, respectively. During a follow-up of 5.5±2.8 years, 35 patients (17%) died. aGLS at the time of first recording of a recovered LVEF correlated with mortality during follow-up (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99, p=0.048 in adjusted Cox model). No deaths were observed in patients with normal aGLS (>18%). In unadjusted Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, aGLS <16% was associated with higher mortality during follow-up (31 deaths (22%) in patients with GLS <16% vs 4 deaths (6.2%) in patients with GLS ≥16%, HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 9, p=0.03).ConclusionsIn patients with NICM and normalised LVEF, an impaired aGLS at the time of LVEF recovery is frequent and associated with worse outcomes.

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Impact of left atrial appendage closure on left atrial hemodynamics: a prospective single center study

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2661 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

E Mertens ◽

N Bouziri ◽

P Guedeney ◽

G Duthoit ◽

A Redheuil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Volume Index ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Clinical Issue ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Mean Pressure ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Percutaneous left atrial (LA) appendage closure is increasingly used to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). While LA appendage plays a key role in LA physiology, data regarding the impact of LA appendage occlusion on LA hemodynamics are lacking. The alteration of LA compliance by LA appendage occlusion may represent a clinical issue in AF patients which are at high risk of heart failure. Purpose To describe the impact of LA appendage occlusion on LA hemodynamics. Material and methods From july 2015 to january 2020, all patients undergoing LA occlusion procedure at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (Paris, France) in whom LA pressure curves were recorded, before and immediately after device implantation, were included. The LA mean pressure was measured at baseline and after LA appendage occlusion during the same procedure. Abnormal LA mean pressure was defined as >15mmHg. We also recorded cardiovascular death and hospitalization for congestive heart failure at longest follow-up. Results We enrolled 85 patients (78±8 years, 46 men), the CHA2DS2-VASc score was 5±1 and the HAS-BLED score was 4±1. The mean LA volume index was 51±15mL/m2, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 60±7%. The LA mean pressure increased significatively after LA appendage closure from 12.6±3.9mmHg to 15.5±5.2mmHg (p<0.0001, Figure). The prevalence of abnormal LA pressure was 20% (17/85) at baseline and 45% (38/85) after LA appendage closure (p=0.005). Post procedural LA pressure elevation was not related to procedure duration nor to fluid expansion volume. During a median follow-up of 364 [124–726] days, 3 (3.5%) patients died from a cardiovascular cause. Hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 6 (16%) of the 38 patients with abnormal postprocedural LA pressure, whereas no congestive episode was observed in the rest of the study population (p=0.006). Conclusion Catheter-based LA appendage occlusion induces an acute alteration of LA hemodynamics. Post procedural abnormal LA pressure may be linked to heart failure episodes in some patients. Further studies are warranted to investigate heart failure as a potential late complication of LA appendage closure. Variations of mean LA pressure Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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Upgraded heart failure therapy leads to an improved outcome of dilated cardiomyopathy in infants and toddlers

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951114002406 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (7) ◽

pp. 1300-1305 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Stefan Rupp ◽

Christian Apitz ◽

Leonie Tholen ◽

Heiner Latus ◽

Stefan H. Ostermayer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

High Risk Patient ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Clinical Approach ◽

Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

One Year

AbstractObjectiveDilated cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of cardiac death in children. Approximately 30% of children die or need cardiac transplantation in the first year after establishing the diagnosis. New strategies are needed to improve the outcome in this high-risk patient population.Method and resultsWe present our experience in 38 patients below the age of three years, who were diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and who were treated at our institution between 2006 and 2012. The treatment strategy involved institution of β-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors as soon as feasible. In selected cases, pulmonary artery banding or intracoronary autologous bone marrow-derived cell therapy was performed. The median age at presentation was six months (range 1–26 months). The median follow-up age was 16 months (range 2–80 months). Kaplan–Meier analysis of survival after dilated cardiomyopathy diagnosis revealed a one-year survival of 97% and a five-year survival of 86%. The rate of freedom from death or heart transplantation was 82% at one year and 69% at five years. Surviving patients who were free of transplantation, at the follow-up at 25 months (3–80 months), showed a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (from 19±11 to 46±16%) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (z-score from 4.6±2.4 to 1.4±1.6). In addition, the levels of B-type natriuretic peptide improved significantly (from 3330±3840 to 171±825 pg/ml).ConclusionOur data suggest that the clinical approach described here may result in a markedly improved medium-term outcome in young children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Further studies are required to evaluate whether these approaches reduce end-points such as transplantation or death.

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Left atrial appendage closure in patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: results from the multicenter German LAARGE registry

Clinical Research in Cardiology ◽

10.1007/s00392-020-01627-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 109 (11) ◽

pp. 1333-1341

Author(s):

Christian Fastner ◽

Johannes Brachmann ◽

Thorsten Lewalter ◽

Uwe Zeymer ◽

Horst Sievert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Left Atrial ◽

Left Atrial Appendage ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Left Atrial Appendage Closure ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

One Year

Abstract Background Interventional left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) effectively prevents thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation patients. Impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increases not only the thromboembolic risk but also the complication rates of cardiac interventions. The LAAC procedure’s benefit in patients with an impaired LVEF, therefore, has yet to be investigated. Methods LAARGE is a prospective, non-randomized registry depicting the clinical reality of LAAC in Germany. Procedure was conducted with different standard commercial devices, and follow-up period was one year. In the sense of an as-treated analysis, patients with started procedure and documented LVEF were selected from the whole database. Results 619 patients from 37 centers were categorized into one of three groups: LVEF > 55% (56%), 36–55% (36%), and ≤ 35% (8%). Prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidity increased with LVEF reduction (p < 0.001 for trend). CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.3, 4.8, and 5.1 (p < 0.001), and HAS-BLED score was 3.7, 4.1, and 4.2 (p < 0.001). Implantation success was consistently high (97.9%), rates of intra-hospital MACCE (0.5%), and other major complications (4.2%) were low (each p = NS). Kaplan–Meier estimation showed a decrease in survival free of stroke with LVEF reduction during one-year follow-up (89.3 vs. 87.0 vs. 79.8%; p = 0.067), a trend which was no longer evident after adjustment for relevant confounding factors. Rates of non-fatal strokes (0.4 vs. 1.1 vs. 0%) and severe bleedings (0.7 vs. 0.0 vs. 3.1%) were consistently low across all groups (each p = NS). Conclusions LVEF reduction neither influenced the procedural success nor the effectiveness and safety of stroke prevention by LAAC. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02230748 Graphic abstract

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254 Impact of sacubitril/valsartan on implantable defibrillator eligibility in heart failure: a real-world experience

European Heart Journal Supplements ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/suab139.014 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽

Author(s):

Luca Monzo ◽

Ilaria Ferrari ◽

Carlo Gaudio ◽

Francesco Cicogna ◽

Claudia Tota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Primary Prevention ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Nyha Class ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Reverse Remodelling ◽

The Impact

Abstract Aims Current guidelines recommend an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) in patients with symptomatic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%] despite ≥3 months of optimal medical therapy. Recent observations demonstrated that sacubitril/valsartan induces beneficial reverse cardiac remodelling in eligible HFrEF patients. Given the pivotal role of LVEF in the selection of ICD candidates, we sought to assess the impact of sacubitril/valsartan on ICD eligibility and its predictors in HFrEF patients. Methods and results We retrospectively evaluated 48 chronic HFrEF patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan and previously implanted with an ICD in primary prevention. We assumed that ICD was no longer necessary if LVEF improved >35% (or > 30% in asymptomatics) at follow-up. Over a median follow-up of 11 months, sacubitril/valsartan induced a significant drop in LV end-systolic volume (−16.7 ml/m2, P = 0.023) and diameter (−6.8 mm, P = 0.022), resulting in a significant increase in LVEF (+3.9%, P < 0.001). As a consequence, 40% of previously implanted patients resulted no more eligible for ICD at follow-up. NYHA class improved in the 50% of population. A dose-dependent effect was noted, with higher doses associated to more reverse remodelling. Among patients deemed no more eligible for ICD, lower NYHA class [odds ratio (OR): 3.73 (95% CI: 1.05–13.24), P = 0.041], better LVEF [OR: 1.23 (95% CI: 1.01–1.48), P = 0.032], and the treatment with the intermediate or high dose of sacubitril/valsartan [OR: 5.60 (1.15–27.1), P = 0.032] were the most important predictors of status change. Conclusions In symptomatic HFrEF patients, sacubitril/valsartan induced beneficial cardiac reverse remodelling and improved NYHA class. These effects resulted in a significant reduction of patients deemed eligible for ICD in primary prevention.

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