Persistence of restrictive left ventricular filling pattern in dilated cardiomyopathy: an ominous prognostic sign.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess the prognostic implications of the evolution of restrictive left ventricular filling pattern (RFP) in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).


BACKGROUND
Previous work has demonstrated that a RFP in DCM is associated with a poor prognosis. Few data are available on the prognostic implications of the evolution of this pattern.


METHODS
The evolution of left ventricular filling was studied by Doppler echocardiography in 110 patients with DCM. According to the left ventricular filling pattern at presentation and after 3 months of treatment, the patients were classified into three groups: Group 1A (n = 24) had persistent restrictive filling; Group 1B (n = 29) had reversible restrictive filling; and Group 2 (n = 57) had nonrestrictive filling.


RESULTS
During follow-up (41 +/- 20 months), mortality plus heart transplantations was significantly higher in Group 1A than in Groups 1B and 2 (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, the model incorporating E wave deceleration time at 3 months was more powerful at predicting mortality with respect to this variable at baseline (p = 0.0039). Clinical improvement at 1 and 2 years was significantly more frequent in Groups 1B and 2 than in Group 1A (p < 0.0001 at 2 years).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with DCM, the persistence of restrictive filling at 3 months is associated with a high mortality and transplantation rate. The patients with reversible restrictive filling have a high probability of improvement and excellent survival. Doppler echocardiographic reevaluation of these patients after 3 months of therapy gives additional prognostic information with respect to the initial study.
Pinamonti
B
B
Department of Cardiology, University of Trieste, Italy.
Zecchin
M
M
Di Lenarda
A
A
Gregori
D
D
Sinagra
G
G
Camerini
F
F
D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left