Time to Recovery from Systolic Dysfunction Correlates with Left Ventricular Fibrosis in Arrhythmia-Induced...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) involves reversible left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) post-rhythm restoration.
• Left ventricular fibrosis is a potential factor influencing recovery in AIC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between left ventricular fibrosis and the time to recovery (TTR) in patients with AIC.
• To assess if cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) findings predict recovery speed in AIC.

Main Methods:

• Prospective recruitment of patients with unexplained LVSD and tachyarrhythmia.
• Echocardiography for LVEF assessment and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) for LV fibrosis evaluation.
• Diagnosis of AIC based on LVEF improvement after rhythm control.

Main Results:

• LV fibrosis, assessed by LGE, positively correlated with TTR (r = 0.63, p = 0.003).
• Greater LV fibrosis was associated with a slower recovery.
• LV fibrosis negatively correlated with early LVEF improvement (ΔLVEF, r = -0.55, p = 0.012).

Conclusions:

• Left ventricular fibrosis is a significant predictor of prolonged recovery time in AIC.
• Quantifying LV fibrosis may aid in estimating recovery duration and optimizing patient management.
• Findings support the integration of fibrosis assessment into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for AIC.