Regional contributions to left ventricular stroke volume determined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) restores ventricular synchrony and induces left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling in patients with heart failure (HF) and dyssynchrony. However, 30% of treated patients are non-responders despite all efforts. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can be used to quantify regional contributions to stroke volume (SV) as potential CRT predictors. The aim of this study was to determine if LV longitudinal (SV long% ), lateral (SV lat% ), and septal (SV sept% ) contributions to SV differ from healthy controls and investigate if these parameters can predict CRT response. Methods Sixty-five patients (19 women, 67 ± 9 years) with symptomatic HF (LVEF ≤ 35%) and broadened QRS (≥ 120 ms) underwent CMR. SV long% was calculated as the volume encompassed by the atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) from end diastole (ED) to end systole (ES) divided by total SV. SV lat% , and SV sept% were calculated as the volume encompassed by radial contraction from ED to ES. Twenty age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were used as controls. The regional measures were compared to outcome response defined as ≥ 15% decrease in echocardiographic LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) from pre- to 6-months post CRT (delta, Δ). Results AVPD and SV long% were lower in patients compared to controls (8.3 ± 3.2 mm vs 15.3 ± 1.6 mm, P < 0.001; and 53 ± 18% vs 64 ± 8%, P < 0.01). SV sept% was lower (0 ± 15% vs 10 ± 4%, P < 0.01) with a higher SV lat% in the patient group (42 ± 16% vs 29 ± 7%, P < 0.01). There were no differences between responders and non-responders in neither SV long% ( P = 0.87), SV lat% ( P = 0.09), nor SV sept% ( P = 0.65). In patients with septal net motion towards the right ventricle (n = 28) ΔLVESV was − 18 ± 22% and with septal net motion towards the LV (n = 37) ΔLVESV was − 19 ± 23% ( P = 0.96). Conclusions Longitudinal function, expressed as AVPD and longitudinal contribution to SV, is decreased in patients with HF scheduled for CRT. A larger lateral contribution to SV compensates for the abnormal septal systolic net movement. However, LV reverse remodeling could not be predicted by these regional contributors to SV.