Myocardial systolic synchrony measured by Doppler tissue imaging as a role of predictor of left ventricular ejection fraction improvement in severe congestive heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) appears to be prognostic of survival in congestive heart failure (CHF). The aim of our study was to evaluate which parameters appear to predict LVEF improvement in CHF.


METHODS
In all, 85 patients (age 64 +/- 12 years) with CHF and LVEF <35% were enrolled. Doppler tissue imaging was performed on 5 basal and 5 midsegments to assess the time from R wave to peak systolic velocity (Ts). The standard deviation (SD) of Ts was an indicator of systolics synchrony. After at least 3 months of intensive medical therapy with beta-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, follow-up echocardiography was performed. By the change in LVEF, we divided patients into group I (<5%, n = 47) and group II (>/=5%, n = 38).


RESULTS
Baseline clinical and echocardiographic parameters were similar in both groups. There was negative correlation between SD of Ts and change of LVEF ( r = -0.43, P < .001). The multivariate analysis shows that SD of Ts and dose of beta-blocker were independent predictors of LVEF improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Myocardial systolic synchrony measured by Doppler tissue imaging is a predictor for LVEF improvement in severe CHF independently from QRS duration, cause of CHF, baseline LVEF, and chamber dimension.
Cho
Goo-Yeong
GY
Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul, South Korea. cardioch@medimail.co.kr
Park
Woo-Jung
WJ
Han
Sung-Woo
SW
Choi
Seung-Hyuk
SH
Doo
Young-Cheol
YC
Oh
Dong-Jin
DJ
Lee
Yung
Y
D000368:Aged; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*