title: Potential candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy in Japanese patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy--a Niigata multicenter study of DCM--.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess the candidates suitable for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and to examine the significance of the QRS duration in Japanese patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population consisted of 357 patients. The selection criteria for candidates suitable for CRT were QRS duration =130 ms, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) =35% and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV by ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 guidelines. We divided the study population into 2 groups: group A with a QRS duration <130 ms, and group B with a QRS duration =130 ms. In 25 of the 375 patients (7.0%), all the criteria were fulfilled. Group B had a significantly larger left ventricular diameter end-diastole and end-systole than group A (P<0.0001). Group B had a lower LVEF (P<0.0001). There was a fair inverse correlation (r=-0.58, P<0.0001) between the length of the QRS duration and LVEF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately 7% of the Japanese patients with DCM are CRT candidates. In the present study, we found that prolonged QRS duration was associated with poor systolic function.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Asahimachi, Niigata, Japan. k1satoru@sweet.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.forename: Masaomi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chinushi
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saikawa
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furushima
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Washizuka
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyajima
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masani
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Yoshifusa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aizawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors