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Are plasma natriuretic peptide levels influenced by automatic pacemaker algorithms for ventricular pacing
Joerg Kreuzer1, Carsten Lennerz, Josef U Dietl
1Abteilung für Kardiologie, St Vincenz Krankenhaus, Limburg, Germany.
Automatic atrioventricular search hysteresis (AVSH) effectively minimizes ventricular pacing (VP%) in dual-chamber pacemakers. However, this reduction in pacing did not significantly alter plasma NT-proBNP levels, indicating no change in ventricular wall stress.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Automatic atrioventricular search hysteresis (AVSH) aims to decrease right ventricular apical pacing (VP%) in dual-chamber pacemakers.
- Investigating AVSH's impact on ventricular wall stress, measured by NT-proBNP, is crucial for understanding its clinical benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if minimizing VP% through AVSH reduces ventricular wall stretching/stress.
- To assess the correlation between reduced VP% and plasma NT-proBNP concentrations.
Main Methods:
- 81 patients with dual-chamber pacemakers were studied.
- Patients underwent periods with fixed atrioventricular delay, standard AVSH, and enhanced AVSH.
- Ventricular pacing percentage (VP%) and plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured at 1, 2, and 3 months.
Main Results:
- Both standard and enhanced AVSH significantly reduced median VP% from 38.5% to 2.1% (P < 0.001).
- Plasma NT-proBNP concentrations did not differ significantly between fixed atrioventricular delay, standard AVSH, and enhanced AVSH groups.
Conclusions:
- Minimizing ventricular pacing with AVSH for one month did not influence plasma NT-proBNP levels.
- AVSH's reduction in VP% does not appear to decrease ventricular wall stretching/stress as indicated by NT-proBNP.
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