A futuristic perspective on clinical studies of cardiac resynchronization therapy for heart failure patients.
OBJECTIVE
Heart failure is a major public health problem. Many heart failure patients have electrical and mechanical ventricular dyssynchrony, which are risk factors for death in heart failure patients.


RESULTS
Cardiac resynchronization therapy, by stimulating both ventricles, is a strategy to improve ventricular dyssynchrony.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper describes the historic development of this therapy; reviews the results of completed clinical cardiac resynchronization therapy studies, and discusses ongoing and future studies.
Tang
Anthony S L
AS
Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada. atang@ottawaheart.ca
Ellenbogen
Kenneth A
KA
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002423:Cause of Death; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000639:trends*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005544:Forecasting; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000639:trends*; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000639:trends; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D016896:Treatment Outcome