A pilot experience with permanent biventricular pacing to treat advanced heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The prognosis and quality of life of patients with advanced heart failure remain poor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate new nonpharmacologic approaches. Biventricular pacing was proposed in this indication, based on the encouraging results of acute hemodynamics studies.


METHODS
Fifty patients with drug-resistant heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III/IV, 16 of 34) were consecutively implanted with biventricular pacemakers. All patients had severe dilated cardiomyopathy and intraventricular conduction delay. Survival, NYHA class, electrocardiogram, echocardiographic data, and exercise tolerance were assessed over a mean follow-up period of 15.4 +/- 10. 2 months.


RESULTS
At the end of follow-up, 55% of patients were alive without heart transplantation or left ventricular assistance device. The mortality rate was significantly lower in class III (12. 5%) than in class IV patients (52.5%). In survivors, biventricular pacing significantly improved symptoms (NYHA class 2.2 +/- 0.5 at follow-up vs 3.7 +/- 0.5 at baseline) and exercise tolerance ((. )VO(2) peak 15.5 +/- 3.4 mL/min per kilogram at follow-up vs 11.1 +/- 3 mL/min per kilogram at baseline).


CONCLUSIONS
Biventricular pacing appears to improve the functional status of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with advanced heart failure. The technique appears to be attractive as an additive treatment, especially in class III patients. Controlled randomized studies are needed to validate this novel concept.
Leclercq
C
C
Département de Cardiologie et Maladies Vasculaires, Centre Cardio-Pneumologique, Rennes Cedex, France. christophe.leclercq@chu-rennes.fr
Cazeau
S
S
Ritter
P
P
Alonso
C
C
Gras
D
D
Mabo
P
P
Lazarus
A
A
Daubert
J C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000401:mortality; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology