Ventricular Dyssynchrony and Pacing-induced Cardiomyopathy in Patients with Pacemakers, the Utility of Ultra-high-frequency ECG and Other Dyssynchrony Assessment Tools

The majority of patients tolerate right ventricular pacing well; however, some patients manifest signs of heart failure after pacemaker implantation and develop pacing-induced cardiomyopathy. This is a consequence of non-physiological ventricular activation bypassing the conduction system. Ventricular dyssynchrony was identified as one of the main factors responsible for pacing-induced cardiomyopathy development. Currently, methods that would allow rapid and reliable ventricular dyssynchrony assessment, ideally during the implant procedure, are lacking. Paced QRS duration is an imperfect marker of dyssynchrony, and methods based on body surface mapping, electrocardiographic imaging or echocardiography are laborious and time-consuming, and can be difficult to use during the implantation procedure. However, the ventricular activation sequence can be readily displayed from the chest leads using an ultra-high-frequency ECG. It can be performed during the implantation procedure to visualise ventricular depolarisation and resultant ventricular dyssynchrony during pacing. This information can assist the electrophysiologist in selecting a pacing location that avoids dyssynchronous ventricular activation

Catheter-based renal denervation versus intensified medical treatment in patients with resistant hypertension: Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized study—PRAGUE-15

AbstractCatheter-based renal denervation (RDN) was considered as a promising method for treatment of resistant hypertension and was increasingly being used worldwide. However, there are equivocal results from only two randomized trials studying the effect of such intervention. Thus, additional data from properly designed long-term comparative trials are needed. The PRAGUE-15 trial is designed as an open, prospective, randomized multicenter trial comparing RDN versus intensified medical treatment in patients with resistant hypertension. Patients randomized to the medical treatment group will receive spironolactone in the absence of contraindications. The primary endpoint will be changes in systolic and diastolic pressure during ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) from baseline to 6 months. Herein, we describe the trial design and methodology. The strengths of the trial include ABPM (as the objective endpoint), independent outcomes assessment, and therapeutic use of spironolactone

Clinical Study Comparison of Long-Term Effect of Dual-Chamber Pacing and Alcohol Septal Ablation in Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Introduction. Nonpharmacological treatment of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) comprises surgical myectomy (SME), alcohol septal ablation (ASA), and dual-chamber (DDD) pacing. The aim of the study was to compare the long-term effect of DDD pacing and ASA in symptomatic HOCM patients. Patients and Methods. We evaluated retrospective data from three cardiocenters; there were 24 patients treated with DDD pacing included and 52 treated with ASA followed for 101 ± 49 and 87 ± 23 months, respectively. Results. In the group treated with DDD pacing, the left ventricle outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) decreased from 82 ± 44 mmHg to 21 ± 21 mmHg, and NYHA class improved from 2.7 ± 0.5 to 2.1 ± 0.6 (both < 0.001). In the ASA-treated group, a decline in LVOTG from 73 ± 38 mmHg to 24 ± 26 mmHg and reduction in NYHA class from 2.8 ± 0.5 to 1.7 ± 0.8 were observed (both < 0.001). The LVOTG change was similar in both groups ( = 0.264), and symptoms were more affected by ASA ( = 0.001). Conclusion. ASA and DDD pacing were similarly effective in reducing LVOTG. The symptoms improvement was more expressed in patients treated with ASA

A randomized comparison of HBP versus RVP: Effect on left ventricular function and biomarkers of collagen metabolism

Background: Right ventricular pacing (RVP) can result in pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM). It is unknown whether specific biomarkers reflect differences between His bundle pacing (HBP) and RVP and predict a decrease in left ventricular function during RVP. Aims: To compare the effect of HBP and RVP on the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and to study how they affect serum markers of collagen metabolism. Methods: Ninety-two high-risk PICM patients were randomized to HBP or RVP. Their clinical characteristics, echocardiography, and serum levels of TGF-β1, MMP-9, ST2-IL, TIMP-1, and Gal-3 were studied before and six months after pacemaker implantation. Results: Fifty-three patients were randomized to HBP and 39 patients to RVP. HBP failed in 10 patients, which crossed over to the RVP group. Patients with RVP had significantly lower LVEF compared to HBP after six months of pacing (−5% and −4% in as-treated and intention-to-treat analysis, respectively). Levels of TGF-β1 after 6 months were lower in HBP than RVP (mean difference −6 ng/ml; P = 0.009) and preimplant Gal-3 and ST2-IL levels were higher in RVP patients with a decline in the LVEF ≥ 5% compared to those with a decline of < 5% (mean difference 3 ng/ml and 8 ng/ml; P = 0.02 for both). Conclusion: In high-risk PICM patients, HBP was superior to RVP in providing more physiological ventricular function, as reflected by higher LVEF and lower levels of TGF-β1. Among RVP patients, LVEF declined more in those with higher baseline Gal-3 and ST2-IL levels than those with lower levels