title: Relative merits of M-mode echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging for prediction of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: M-mode echocardiography (using the septal-to-posterior wall motion delay [SPWMD]) and color-coded tissue Doppler imaging (TDI; using the septal-to-lateral delay in peak systolic velocity) have been proposed for assessment of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony and prediction of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In this study, a head-to-head comparison between M-mode echocardiography and color-coded TDI was performed for assessment of LV dyssynchrony and prediction of response to CRT. Consecutive (n = 98) patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association class III/IV), LV ejection fraction < or =35%, and QRS duration >120 ms underwent CRT. Before pacemaker implantation, LV dyssynchrony was assessed by M-mode echocardiography (SPWMD) and color-coded TDI (septal-to-lateral delay). At baseline and 6 months after implantation, clinical and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. SPWMD measurement was not feasible in 41% of patients due to akinesia of the septal and/or posterior walls or poor acoustic windows. Conversely, the septal-to-lateral delay could be assessed in 96% of patients. At 6-month follow-up, 75 patients (77%) were classified as responders to CRT (improvement > or =1 New York Heart Association class). The sensitivity and specificity of SPWMD were lower compared with those of septal-to-lateral delay (66% vs 90%, p <0.05; 50% vs 82%, p = NS, respectively). In conclusion, LV dyssynchrony assessment was feasible in 59% of patients with M-mode echocardiography compared with 96% (p <0.05) when color-coded TDI was used. Color-coded TDI was superior to M-mode echocardiography for prediction of response to CRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. g.b.bleeker@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Gabe B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bleeker
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schalij
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boersma
authors.forename: Eduard R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steendijk
authors.forename: Ernst E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: van der Wall
authors.forename: Jeroen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bax
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume