Predictive Factors for New-Onset Left Bundle Branch Block in Patients with Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Its Prognostic Value.

It remains unclear whether elevated ventricular wall pressure and left ventricular enlargement in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) can lead to left bundle branch block (LBBB). In this study, 801 consecutive hospitalized patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of < 50% were enrolled. The primary outcome was the occurrence of new-onset LBBB or heart failure-related hospitalization, all-cause mortality, ventricular tachycardia, or implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) /cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Association between left bundle branch block and ventricular septal mid-wall fibrosis in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: The left bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with ventricular septal mid-wall fibrosis (SMF) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, whether LBBB is also associated with SMF in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remains unclear.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 210 patients with preserved LVEF (male, n = 116; female, n = 94; mean age, 44 ± 17 years).

Efficacy of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with significant functional mitral regurgitation.

Background: Catheter ablation has been established to be an effective therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and is recommended as the treatment of choice for many patients, including those with clinically significant functional mitral regurgitation (MR). However, there is little information available about the clinical efficacy of catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF in patients with significant functional MR.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 247 patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent AF ablation.