Background: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). However, long-term results of CRT have not yet been validated.
Aim: To assess the sustained benefit of CRT in patients with end-stage HF at long-term follow-up. In addition, predictors of response to CRT were analysed.
Methods: Twenty-eight patients with end-stage HF, NYHA class >or=III (>or=II in patients with indications for ICD and echocardiographic signs of ventricular mechanical systolic dyssynchrony), left ventricular ejection fraction <35%, QRS duration >120 ms and left bundle branch block morphology received a biventricular device (BiV). In 27 patients LV pacing was achieved via the coronary sinus tributaries and in 1 patient an endocardial LV lead was introduced transseptally. Ten patients received an ICD-CRT device. The control group consisted of 29 patients fulfilling the criteria for ICD-CRT implantation in whom the CRT system was not implanted for various reasons. At baseline, 3 months after implantation, and then every 6 months the following parameters were evaluated: NYHA class, quality of life (QoL) score, QRS duration on surface ECG, and 6-minute walking distance. The need for hospitalisation assessed one year before and one year after implantation was compared. Follow-up was obtained up to 2 years.
Results: The NYHA class and 6-minute walking test were significantly improved in the CRT group after 3 months and continued to improve gradually until 24 months of follow-up. The QoL improvement at 6 months was sustained over 2 years. Hospitalisation rate due to worsening of HF decreased. One-year and two-year survival were significantly better in the CRT group than in the control group (94 and 87 vs. 80 and 73% respectively). The only predictor of clinical improvement after CRT implantation was baseline NYHA class.
Conclusion: Clinical improvements with CRT are progressive and sustained over 2 years of follow-up.
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BMC Infect Dis
January 2025
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebeen El-Kom, Egypt.
Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a critical intervention for individuals with end-stage liver disease; yet, post-transplant problems, especially infections, graft rejection, and chronic liver disease, are often linked to systemic inflammation. Cytokines, small signaling molecules, significantly influence immune responses during and post-liver transplantation. Nonetheless, the intricate relationships among cytokines, immune responses, and the gut microbiota, especially gut dysbiosis, are still inadequately comprehended.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Nephrol
January 2025
Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 35, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark.
Background: Patients treated with chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation have difficulties in maintaining employment. We aimed to estimate employment rates among dialysis and kidney transplant patients from 3 years before to 3 years after initiating dialysis or undergoing transplantation.
Methods: All first-time dialysis and kidney transplantation patients aged 18-65 years in Denmark from 2005 to 2019 were identified using the Danish Nephrological Register and linked with information about social security benefits.
Nefrologia (Engl Ed)
January 2025
Department of Ultrasound, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China. Electronic address:
Objective: As radiocephalic fistula is not necessarily appropriate for all patients with advanced kidney disease, our aim was to investigate the sensitive indicators that affect the functional primary patency of radiocephalic fistulas.
Methods: This prospective observational study included consecutive patients referred to the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University for initial creation of radiocephalic fistula from July 2017 to December 2019. Preoperative ultrasound parameters, demographic characteristics, serum indicators and comorbidities were recorded.
Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol
January 2025
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt. Electronic address:
Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a serious end-stage spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with associated high risk of hepatic and extrahepatic complications. Several studies showed the significant beneficial effect of dapagliflozin on body composition, hepatic and metabolic parameters on NAFLD/NASH patients. The study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in both diabetic and non-diabetic biopsy-proven NASH patients; compared to pioglitazone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at a higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications and mortality compared to the general population. This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of KCNN2, a key gene encoding a subtype of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels, which regulate an important SK current pathway potentially involved in the development of CV complications, particularly arrhythmias, in ESRD patients. A total of 169 ESRD patients were enrolled in this study.
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