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Effects of β-blocker therapy on electrocardiographic and echocardiographic characteristics of left ventricular noncompaction

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Abstract

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a cardiomyopathy with hypertrabeculation of the LV, often complicated by heart failure, arrhythmia and thromboembolic events. The features of LVNC are still incompletely characterized due to its late recognition as clinically relevant condition. The aims of this study were to describe echocardiographic and electrophysiologic characteristics of LVNC patients and to assess the effects of chronic β-blocker treatment. Study patients (n = 20; 42.5 [36.3; 52.5] years; 12 men) exhibited reduced LV ejection fraction (median LVEF = 32 %) and an increased LV mass of 210 g. Sinus rhythm was present in 19 patients, whereas one patient was in atrial fibrillation. Baseline heart rate was 77.5 beats per minute. Left bundle branch block was detected in five cases. In a subgroup of patients receiving β-blocker therapy (n = 17), LV mass was reduced from 226 [178; 306] g to 220 [169; 254] g (p = 0.007) at 13 ± 6 months follow-up. By contrast, a subgroup of three patients that were not treated with an anti-β-adrenergic agent showed LV mass increase from 180 [169; 197] g to 199 [185; 213] g (p = 0.023). LVEF and electrocardiographic parameters were not significantly modulated during chronic β-blocker treatment. There was no sustained symptomatic ventricular tachyarrhythmia, thromboembolic event or death in either group. In conclusion, this study reveals reduction of LV mass among LVNC patients during β-blocker therapy. Effects of β-blocker treatment in LVNC require validation in prospective controlled studies.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by research grants from the DZHK (Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung—German Center for Cardiovascular Research) and from the BMBF (German Ministry of Education and Research) (to B.M., P.A.S., H.A.K. and D.T.).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Mohamed Assem Abdelrazek

    Present address: Radiology Department, Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

  2. Constanze Merten

    Present address: Heart Center, Segeberger Kliniken GmbH, Bad Segeberg, Germany

  3. Rüdiger Becker

    Present address: Department of Cardiology, Angiology, Nephrology and Intensive Care, Klinikum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Jin Li, Jennifer Franke, Regina Pribe-Wolferts, Benjamin Meder, Philipp Ehlermann, Derliz Mereles, Florian Andre, Mohamed Assem Abdelrazek, Constanze Merten, Patrick A. Schweizer, Rüdiger Becker, Hugo A. Katus & Dierk Thomas

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  1. Jin Li
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Li, J., Franke, J., Pribe-Wolferts, R. et al. Effects of β-blocker therapy on electrocardiographic and echocardiographic characteristics of left ventricular noncompaction. Clin Res Cardiol 104, 241–249 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-014-0778-z

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