Echocardiographic parameters as predictors for the efficiency of resynchronization therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction

Therapy of heart failure (HF) in patients with dilative cardiomyopathy (DCM) represents a challenge for physicians and a financial burden for the health care system. Nowadays, the implementation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) represents an increasingly recommended solution for alleviating symptomatology and improving the quality of life in individuals with CMD and HF with severely reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy (OMT). CRT has proven to be a valuable therapeutic alternative if implemented successfully. However, it seems that not in all cases this therapy succeeds in the desired results, sometimes low sensing and high voltage stimulation being needed to obtain some degree of resynchronization, even in the case of perfectly placed cardiac pacing leads. Our study aims to identify whether there are a relation between several transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) parameters characterizing cardiac performance, especially strain results, and acute and chronic sensing and pacing parameters. (2) Methods: in 48 patients with mean age 64 (53.25-70) years, diagnosed with CMD, and HFrEF, still symptomatic despite OMT, CRT was practiced during 2020-2021, to treat persistent symptoms.