Long-term effects of dynamic atrial overdrive pacing on sleep-related breathing disorders in pacemaker or cardioverter defibrillator recipients.

Introduction: Sleep-related breathing disorders occur in 20-30% of Europeans and North Americans, including 10% of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). A preliminary study suggested that atrial overdrive pacing with a fixed heart rate might alleviate SAS. However, it is not known whether dynamic atrial overdrive pacing alleviates SAS.

Multicentre evaluation of a rule-based data filter for home monitoring of implanted cardioverter defibrillators.

We developed a rule-based data filter for the automatic interpretation of data transmitted from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). The feasibility and user acceptability of the data filter were tested in a multicentre study. Fifteen European centres analysed 10 cases each.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves central sleep apnea and Cheyne-Stokes respiration in patients with chronic heart failure.

Objectives: We studied the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on heart failure (HF) patients with central sleep apnea (CSA).

Background: Patients with advanced HF often suffer from CSA with Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves myocardial function and exercise capacity in HF patients with conduction disturbances.

Acute effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on functional mitral regurgitation in advanced systolic heart failure.

Objectives: We studied the acute effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on functional mitral regurgitation in heart failure (HF) patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB).

Background: Both an decrease [corrected] in left ventricular (LV) closing force and mitral valve tethering have been implicated as mechanisms for functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) in dilated hearts. We hypothesized that an increase in LV closing force achieved by CRT could act to reduce FMR.

Preserved parasympathetic cardiac innervation after atrioventricular node modification: evidence from circle maps of respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

Introduction: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart rate variability (HRV) are parameters of autonomic cardiac innervation. They decrease with age and after atrioventricular nodal modification (AVNM) suggesting vagal denervation in both situations. We hypothesized, however, that AVNM causes only a transient, functional decline in vagal activity, whereas aging causes permanent vagal denervation.