Very Late Continued Reverse Remodelling After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With Extreme Left Ventricular Dilatation.

Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) varies greatly among patients. We present 2 patients with severe heart failure symptoms (New York Heart Association class IV) and extreme initial left ventricular (LV) dilatation (LV end-diastolic diameter of 92 mm and 80 mm, respectively) and severe functional mitral regurgitation who underwent CRT device implantation. Long-term follow-up showed late (≥ 4 years) normalization of LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV dimensions, and functional status.

Usefulness of global left ventricular longitudinal strain for risk stratification in low ejection fraction, low-gradient aortic stenosis: results from the multicenter True or Pseudo-Severe Aortic Stenosis study.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured at rest and at dobutamine stress echocardiography on the outcome of patients with low LV ejection fraction and low-gradient aortic stenosis.

Methods And Results: Among the 202 patients with low LV ejection fraction (≤40%), low-gradient aortic stenosis (mean transvalvular gradient <40 mm Hg and indexed aortic valve area ≤0.6 cm(2)/m(2)) prospectively enrolled in the multicenter True or Pseudo-Severe Aortic Stenosis study, 126 patients with resting GLS and 73 patients with stress GLS available were included in this substudy.

Visceral adiposity and left ventricular mass and function in patients with aortic stenosis: the PROGRESSA study.

Background: Recent studies have reported that obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes are associated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) and dysfunction in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The purpose of this study was to examine the association between amount and distribution of body fat and LVH and systolic dysfunction in AS patients.

Methods: One hundred twenty-four patients with AS were prospectively recruited in the PROGRESSA (Metabolic Determinants of the Progression of Aortic Stenosis) study and underwent Doppler echocardiography and computed tomography scan.