scholarly journals Cardiovascular Imaging Applications in Clinical Management of Patients Treated with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Hearts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-180
Author(s):  
Cinzia Valzania ◽  
Fredrik Gadler ◽  
Eva Maret ◽  
Maria J. Eriksson

Cardiovascular imaging techniques, including echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, multi-slice computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance, have wide applications in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Our aim was to provide an update of cardiovascular imaging applications before, during, and after implantation of a CRT device. Before CRT implantation, cardiovascular imaging techniques may integrate current clinical and electrocardiographic selection criteria in the identification of patients who may most likely benefit from CRT. Assessment of myocardial viability by ultrasound, nuclear cardiology, or cardiac magnetic resonance may guide optimal left ventricular (LV) lead positioning and help to predict LV function improvement by CRT. During implantation, echocardiographic techniques may guide in the identification of the best site of LV pacing. After CRT implantation, cardiovascular imaging plays an important role in the assessment of CRT response, which can be defined according to LV reverse remodeling, function and dyssynchrony indices. Furthermore, imaging techniques may be used for CRT programming optimization during follow-up, especially in patients who turn out to be non-responders. However, in the clinical settings, the use of proposed functional indices for different imaging techniques is still debated, due to their suboptimal feasibility and reproducibility. Moreover, identifying CRT responders before implantation and turning non-responders into responders at follow-up remain challenging issues.

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Czimbalmos ◽  
R Papp ◽  
L Szabo ◽  
A Toth ◽  
I Csecs ◽  
...  

Abstract   Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a valuable tool in the assessment of left and right ventricular volumes and functions therefore establishing the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), but in majority of the devices MR safe mode does not include biventricular pacing as an option. We aimed to assess the effect of cardiac resynchronization using CMR with resynchronization on. NYHA class II-III patients with LVEF≤35% despite optimal medical therapy and complete LBBB with broad QRS (>150 ms) were prospectively recruited (n=16, 65±7 years, 56% male, 69% nonischaemic). CMR examination was performed at baseline and at 6-month follow-up, applying both biventricular and AOO pacing. The following data were measured: conventional CMR parameters including left and right ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic index (LVEDVi) and end-systolic volume index (LVESVi), stroke volume and mass, remodelling indices such as 3D sphericity and relative wall thickness (RWT: 2x end-diastolic wall thickness /end-diastolic long-axis diameter). Using feature tracking analysis global longitudinal, circumferential, radial strain, global dyssynchrony (mechanical dispersion (MD)) and regional dyssynchrony was measured. Comparing the baseline and follow-up CMR parameters measured during biventricular pacing, we found a significant increase in LVEF (27±7 vs 45±9%; p<0.001) and decrease in LVEDVi and LVESVi (LVEDVi: 149±28 vs 91±20ml/m2; LVESVi: 108±31 vs 51±17ml/m2; p<0.001). Based on decrease in LVESVi 14 patients were classified as super-responder (>30%), one responder (>15%) and one non-responder (<15%). ProBNP levels significantly decreased (1186±83 vs 323±271 pg/ml, p<0.05). LV remodelling indices (3D sphericity: 0.46±0.13 vs 0.61±0.11, RWT: 0.33±0.07 vs 0.43±0.10), global longitudinal, circumferential and radial strain values showed significant improvement. Circumferential MD decreased (18.3±6.7 vs 13.3±3.4, p<0.01), while longitudinal MD did not change. Regional dyssynchrony drastically improved (358±108 vs 98±61ms, p<0.001). Applying AOO pacing resulted in an immediate deterioration in LVEF (45±9 vs 38±9%), LVESVi (51±17 vs 58±19 ml/m2), global circumferential and radial strain and regional dyssynchrony. In conclusion CMR imaging during biventricular pacing is feasible and enables a more precise quantification of LV function, morphology and mechanics. As a result, it may contribute to a better understanding of the effects of resynchronization therapy and might improve responder rate in the future. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary (NKFIA)


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Östenson ◽  
Ellen Ostenfeld ◽  
Anna Werther-Evaldsson ◽  
Anders Roijer ◽  
Zoltan Bakos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) restores ventricular synchrony and induces left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling in patients with heart failure (HF) and dyssynchrony. However, 30% of treated patients are non-responders despite all efforts. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can be used to quantify regional contributions to stroke volume (SV) as potential CRT predictors. The aim of this study was to determine if LV longitudinal (SVlong%), lateral (SVlat%), and septal (SVsept%) contributions to SV differ from healthy controls and investigate if these parameters can predict CRT response. Methods Sixty-five patients (19 women, 67 ± 9 years) with symptomatic HF (LVEF ≤ 35%) and broadened QRS (≥ 120 ms) underwent CMR. SVlong% was calculated as the volume encompassed by the atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) from end diastole (ED) to end systole (ES) divided by total SV. SVlat%, and SVsept% were calculated as the volume encompassed by radial contraction from ED to ES. Twenty age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were used as controls. The regional measures were compared to outcome response defined as ≥ 15% decrease in echocardiographic LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) from pre- to 6-months post CRT (delta, Δ). Results AVPD and SVlong% were lower in patients compared to controls (8.3 ± 3.2 mm vs 15.3 ± 1.6 mm, P < 0.001; and 53 ± 18% vs 64 ± 8%, P < 0.01). SVsept% was lower (0 ± 15% vs 10 ± 4%, P < 0.01) with a higher SVlat% in the patient group (42 ± 16% vs 29 ± 7%, P < 0.01). There were no differences between responders and non-responders in neither SVlong% (P = 0.87), SVlat% (P = 0.09), nor SVsept% (P = 0.65). In patients with septal net motion towards the right ventricle (n = 28) ΔLVESV was − 18 ± 22% and with septal net motion towards the LV (n = 37) ΔLVESV was − 19 ± 23% (P = 0.96). Conclusions Longitudinal function, expressed as AVPD and longitudinal contribution to SV, is decreased in patients with HF scheduled for CRT. A larger lateral contribution to SV compensates for the abnormal septal systolic net movement. However, LV reverse remodeling could not be predicted by these regional contributors to SV.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Szepietowska ◽  
Valentina Kutyifa ◽  
Martin H Ruwald ◽  
Scott D Solomon ◽  
Anne-Christine H Ruwald ◽  
...  

Methods: We aimed to analyze the risk for death and HF and the effect of CRT on HF/death in diabetic patients with or without insulin treatment compared to none diabetic population. The study comprised 1278 patients with left bundle branch block in the MADIT-CRT trial with an average follow-up of 3.3y. We used time dependent survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression method. Results: In ICD arm patients with diabetes receiving insulin treatment had 2.4-fold higher risk of all-cause mortality (p=0.008), and 2.2-fold higher risk of HF (p<0.001) when compared to non diabetic patients, and 2.8-fold higher risk of death (p=0.01), and 1.6-fold higher risk of HF (p=0.06) when compared to patients with diabetes not treated with insulin. Treatment with CRT-D was associated with a significant 75% risk reduction in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR ] 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08-0.77; p=0.016) in patients with diabetes receiving insulin. Noteworthy, during the 3-year follow-up, reduction in all-cause mortality was not observed in patients not treated with insulin or in patients with no diabetes (interaction p-value=0.038). Significant risk reduction in HF and in HF/death after CRT treatment was observed across all three investigated groups. There were not significant differences in left ventricular reverse remodeling after CRT-D among diabetic patients with or without insulin treatment compared to the nondiabetic population. Conclusions: Patients with insulin treated diabetes derive significant reduction in mortality and heart failure after implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Patients with diabetes and no insulin and patient without diabetes benefit from CRT by reduction of HF events.


Author(s):  
Marta Sitges ◽  
Genevieve Derumeaux

Cardiac imaging techniques have an important role in the follow-up of patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) as they provide objective evidence of changes in cardiac dimensions and function. The role of echocardiography is well established in the assessment of left ventricular reverse remodelling and the evaluation of secondary (functional) mitral regurgitation. Additionally, echocardiography might be used for optimizing the programming of atrio-ventricular (AV) and inter-ventricular (VV) delays of current CRT devices. Acute benefits from this optimization have been demonstrated, but longer follow-up studies have failed to show a clear benefit of optimized CRT on top of simultaneous biventricular pacing on the outcome of patients with CRT. This chapter reviews the role of imaging in assessing follow-up and outcome of patients undergoing CRT, as well as the rationale, the methods used, and the clinical impact of optimization of the programming of CRT devices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V A Kuznetsov ◽  
T N Enina ◽  
A M Soldatova ◽  
T I Petelina ◽  
N E Shirokov ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Superresponders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) demonstrate significant reverse remodeling, improvement in cardiac function, decrease in inflammatory mediators and markers of cardiac fibrosis. It is not clear if superresponse (SR) can be early or late and if the time of SR to CRT is associated with different degree of biochemical improvement. Aim To assess structural and functional heart parameters, sympathetic activity, levels of biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis, inflammatory and neurohormonal mediators in patients with various time of SR to CRT. Methods The study enrolled 82 superresponders to CRT (decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) >30%) (mean age 60.4±9.3 years; 80.5% men, 19.5% women; 54.9% with ischemic etiology of heart failure). Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=19) – SR was achieved within 24 months (14.0 [8.0; 21.0] months); group 2 (n=63) - SR was achieved after 24 months (59 [43.0; 84.0] months). Echocardiographic parameters, plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, NT-proBNP, interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), metalloproteinase (MMP) 9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 and 4 were evaluated. Results At baseline there were no differences in demographic, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics between the groups. Levels of epinephrine (1.1 [0.1; 2.2] ng/ml vs 2.1 [0.7; 3.4] ng/ml; p=0.049) and IL-10 (1.8 [1.5; 3.5] pg/ml vs 3.9 [2.7; 5.1] pg/ml; p=0.019) were significantly higher in group 2. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in echocardiographic parameters. On follow-up left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension (p=0.041), LV end-diastolic dimension (p=0.049), LVESV (p=0.014), LV end-diastolic volume (p=0.045) were lower in group 2. In group 1 IL-6 (p=0.047), TNF-α (p=0.047) decreased significantly and there was a tendency for IL-1β (p=0.064) and norepinephrine (p=0.069) levels to increase. In group 2 levels of IL-1β (p<0.001), IL-6 (p=0.030), IL-10 (p=0.003), TNF-α (p<0.001), TIMP-1 (p=0.010) and epinephrine (p=0.024) decreased significantly while MMP-9/TIMP-1 (p=0.023) increased as compared to baseline levels. Additionally there was a tendency for NT-proBNP level to decrease in group 2 (p=0.069). Follow-up level of norepinephrine (7.8 [2.9; 17.2] ng/ml vs 1.1 [0.2; 8.7] ng/ml; p=0.011 was lower and MMP-9/TIMP-4 level was higher (0.058 [0.044; 0.091] vs 0.092 [0.064; 0.111]; p=0.013) in group 2. Diverse trends were observed in IL-10 (0.4 [−0.6; 1.2] pg/ml in group 1 vs −2.3 [−3.4; −0.5] pg/ml in group 2; p=0.007) and norepinephrine (4.0 [−5.2; 14.3] ng/ml in the group 1 vs −1.2 [−11.6; 4.0] ng/ml in the group 2; p=0.015) between the groups. Conclusion CRT modulates sympathetic, neurohumoral, immune and fibrotic activity. Late SR to CRT is associated with decrease of sympathetic and inflammatory activity and more pronounced LV reverse remodeling.


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