title: QRS prolongation after cardiac resynchronization therapy is a predictor of persistent mechanical dyssynchrony.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolonged QRS duration is the main selection criterion for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) which ameliorates left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (MD). However, consequences of post-CRT QRS prolongation and residual MD have been poorly evaluated. We aimed to define the predictors of persistent MD and hypothesized that CRT-induced QRS change (ΔQRS) might have an impact on residual MD after CRT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 80 patients receiving CRT were included in the study. ΔQRS was calculated as the difference between the baseline and paced QRS intervals. Residual MD was assessed early after device implantation with a longitudinal dyssynchrony index (Yu index). Significant MD was defined as a Yu index ≥ 33 msec. Two groups were created based on residual MD and compared according to clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with persistent MD had longer paced QRS durations (182.5 ± 16.2 vs. 165.4 ± 22.5 msec, p = 0.03) and were less likely to have left ventricular (LV) leads located in the posterolateral vein (53 % vs. 85 %, p = 0.002). The linear correlation between the ΔQRS and the Yu index values was modest (Spearman's rho = -0.341, p = 0.002); additionally, a prolonged QRS was strongly associated with MD after CRT (p = 0.00008). Both LV lead localization and CRT-induced QRS prolongation emerged as the significant predictors of persistent MD. A biventricularly paced QRS more than 10 msec longer than the pre-paced QRS width was predictive of persistent MD after CRT (sensitivity = 80 %, specificity = 62 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ΔQRS was found to be associated with residual MD after CRT. Ten milliseconds of QRS prolongation predicted persistent MD after CRT.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey. oguzkaraca@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Omaygenc
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Beytullah
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cakal
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinem Deniz
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cakal
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barutcu
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boztosun
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fethi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kilicaslan
mesh_terms: D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Cardiac resynchronization therapy; Mechanical dyssynchrony; Paced QRS; QRS prolongation