Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: the muscular metabolic pathway

Background. Changes in peripheral muscle in heart failure lead to a shift from aerobic to early anaerobic metabolism during exercise leading to ergoreflex overactivation and exaggerated hyperventilation evaluated by the VE/VCO(2) slope. Methods. 50 patients (38 males, 59 ± 12 years) performed cardio-pulmonary exercise test with gaz exchange measurement and echocardiographic evaluation before and 6 months after CRT. Results. The peak respiratory exchange (VCO(2)/ VO(2)) ratio was significantly reduced from 1.16 ± 0.14 to 1.11 ± 0.07 (P < .05) and the time to the anaerobic threshold was increased from 153 ± 82 to 245 ± 140 seconds (P = .01). Peak VO(2), VE/VCO(2), peak circulatory power and NYHA were improved after CRT (13 ± 4 to16 ± 5 ml/kg/min (P < .05), 45 ± 16 to 39 ± 13 (P < .01), 1805 ± 844 to 2225 ± 1171 mmHg.ml/kg/min (P < .01) and 3 ± 0.35 to 1.88 ± 0.4 (P = .01)). In addition, left ventricular ejection fraction and end-systolic volumes were improved from 24 ± 8 to 29 ± 7% (P < .01) and from 157 ± 69 to 122 ± 55 ml (P < .01). Conclusion. We suggest that CRT leads to an increase in oxidative muscular metabolism and postponed anaerobic threshold reducing exaggerated hyperventilation during exercise.