Agnieszka Debska-Kozlowska, Marcin Ksiazczyk*, Izabela Warchol and Andrzej Lubinski Pages 1671 - 1678 ( 8 )
Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a valuable intracardiac device-based treatment option for a subgroup of patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and QRS prolongation. However, still a significant proportion of patients do not benefit from CRT implantation, labeled as non-responders.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) and high sensitivity troponin T (cTnThs) value as predictors of CRT response in a 12-month observation.
Materials and Methods: The study included 46 patients with HF and implanted CRT-D. Levels of NT-pro BNP and cTnThs were assessed during a 12 month follow up.
Results: 46 consecutive patients (76% men) with a mean age of 64±8 were observed for 12 months. The CRT response criteria was met by 26 patients (56,5%). A significant decline in the NT-pro BNP concentrations was documented in responders (p=0.001). Moreover, ΔNT-pro BNP by at least 579 pg/ml had high sensitivity and specificity for identifying the CRT responders. There were no statistically significant differences in the results of cTnThs between the two study groups.
Conclusion: The relative change in the level of NT-pro BNP by at least 43,5% allows to identify the responders to CRT after 12 months of follow-up. Serial measurements of NT-pro BNP can be a valuable tool for monitoring the effectiveness of CRT.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy, heart failure, high sensitivity troponin T, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, CRT responders, CRT non-responders.
Department of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Department of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz