[Resynchronization therapy of heart failure]

Magy Seb. 2007 Jan;60(1):481-7. doi: 10.1556/MaSeb.60.2007.1.3.
[Article in Hungarian]

Abstract

Heart failure has a high prevalence and it has a poor prognosis despite the advances in pharmacological treatment. Cardiac resynchronization therapy with biventricular pacemaker has a clinically proven efficacy in the treatment of heart failure with intraventricular dyssynchrony. Conventionally the therapy is indicated in severe drug refractory heart failure (NYHA III-IV) with optimal drug treatment, increased QRS duration (> or = 120 ms), echocardiographic parameters (left ventricular ejection fraction at most 35%). Implementation of new methods (tissue doppler echocardiography, CT, MRI, electroanatomical mapping) can help to select potentially responding patients. Individual optimization of therapy can be performed with non-invasive and invasive methods, the efficacy can be improved even in responding patients. Due to the outstanding efficiency widening the indications is a must. Currently, the efficacy is being investigated in mild heart failure and patients with narrow QRS. Several other questions (transvenous or surgical implantation, need of an implantable defibrillator) will be answered in future trials.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Output, Low / therapy
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial* / methods
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial* / trends
  • Defibrillators, Implantable*
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Pacemaker, Artificial
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / therapy