Notes: Background: In dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients (pts) with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for ventricular dyssynchrony, long-term predictors of mortality and morbidity remain poorly investigated. Method and Results: We reviewed data of 102 pts, 68 ± 10 years, NYHA Class II–IV (14 Class II, 67 Class III, 21 Class IV), who benefited from CRT (69 CRT, 33 CRT-ICD). Fifty-two patients had an ischemic DCM, 36 a previously implanted conventional PM/ICD, 29 a permanent atrial fibrillation, and 19 needed dobutamine in the month preceding implant. QRS duration was 187 ± 35 ms, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter 72 ± 10 mm, mitral regurgitation severity 1.9 ± 0.8, echographic aorto-pulmonary electromechanical delay 61.5 ± 25 ms and septo-lateral left intraventricular delay 86 ± 56 ms, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) 43 ± 11 mmHg, angioscintigraphic left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) 20 ± 9%, and right ventricular EF 30.5 ± 14%. Over a mean follow-up of 23 ± 20 months, 26 pts died (18 heart failures (HFs), 1 arrhythmic storm, 7 noncardiac deaths). Positive univariate predictors of death from any cause were NYHA Class IV (P 〈 0.001), and need for dobutamine the month preceding CRT (P 〈 0.008), while use of β-blocking agents (P 〈 0.08) and left ventricular EF (P 〈 0.09) were negative ones. NYHA Class IV was the only independent predictor at multivariate analysis (P 〈 0.01). Survival at 24 months was 85% in Class II, 80% in Class III, and 37% in Class IV (II vs III, P = ns; III vs IV, P 〈 0.001). When using a composite endpoint of death from any cause and unplanned rehospitalization for a major cardiovascular event, there were 48 events (14 HF deaths, 3 noncardiac deaths, 26 HF rehospitalizations, 2 paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, 2 sustained ventricular tachycardia, 1 nonfatal pulmonary embolism). Predictors of death from any cause/unplanned rehospitalization for a major cardiovascular event in the follow-up were NYHA Class IV (P 〈 0.001), need for dobutamine during the month preceding CRT (P 〈 0.002), and PAP (〈0.02). NYHA Class IV was the only independent predictor at multivariate analysis (P 〈 0.05). Event-free proportion at 24 months was 70% in Class II, 64% in Class III, and 37% in Class IV (II vs III, P = ns; III vs IV, P 〈 0.01). When considering determinants of mortality only in NYHA Class IV patients, no variable was significantly correlated to mortality. Need for dobutamine during the last month preceding CRT did not add an adjunctive mortality risk. Conclusion: Baseline NYHA Class IV at implantation appears as the most important determinant of a poor clinical outcome in terms of both mortality and morbidity. No predictive criteria seem available for NYHA Class IV patients, in order to discriminate who will die after CRT and who will not. NYHA Class IV strongly influences the clinical outcome, suggesting that, in future studies planned on mortality and rehospitalization as major endpoints, baseline NYHA Class IV should be separately taken into account.

Notes: Objectives: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is associated with arrhythmias and sudden death. Some studies suggest that abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) may contribute to these arrhythmias. In a family investigation with genetic analysis of patients carrying a MVP, we performed a Holter study to define the autonomic profile of MVP. Methods and Results: A 24-hour digitized 3-lead Holter ECG was recorded in 30 patients with MVP and in two control groups, a group of 30 healthy relatives and a group of 31 healthy volunteers. We studied especially heart rate variability (HRV) and QT dynamicity. The slope of the relationship between ventricular repolarization and heart rate was studied separately during day and night. There was no difference in HRV (SDNN, rMSSD) among the three groups. On the contrary, QT interval duration was increased in patients with MVP as compared to healthy relatives (QT end: 409 ± 52 ms vs 372 ± 23 ms, P 〈 0.05; QT apex: 319 ± 42 ms vs 286 ± 23 ms, P 〈 0.01) and to healthy volunteers (QT end: 409 ± 52 ms vs 376 ± 25 ms, P = 0.004; QT apex: 319 ± 42 ms vs 289 ± 23 ms, P 〈 0.01). Nocturnal ventricular repolarization rate dependence was increased in MVP as compared to healthy relatives (0.16 ± 0.06 vs 0.13 ± 0.04, P 〈 0.05) and to healthy volunteers (0.16 ± 0.06 vs 0.11 ± 0.06, P 〈 0.001) whereas the 24-hour and diurnal QT–R-R slope was not disturbed. Conclusion: In MVP, QT is increased and the circadian modulation of QT end/RR slope is disturbed with an increased nocturnal rate dependence. These abnormalities of ventricular repolarization might explain the risk of arrhythmic events in MVP.