Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor use in patients with left ventricular assist devices: A single-center experience

Though left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are an increasingly common therapy for ACC/AHA Stage D heart failure, the optimal medical therapy for patients with LVADs is not known. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) therapy in our single center LVAD patient experience. We evaluated patients implanted with LVADs at Columbia University Irving Medical Center between August 2010 and May 2019, and who were treated with an ARNi for at least 3 months. Thirty patients met this criteria. Eighteen (60%) patients transitioned to an ARNi from an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), while all were on a beta blocker (BB) at the time of ARNi initiation. The primary outcome, NT-proBNP levels at time of initiation and 3 and 6 month follow up, significantly decreased from a median of 1265 pg/mL at initiation to 750 pg/mL at 3 months and 764 pg/mL at 6 months ( p = 0.01). No significant change was seen in serum creatinine, BUN, or potassium levels.