Cited 141 times since 2004 (7.3 per year) source: EuropePMC The American journal of cardiology, Volume 94, Issue 12, 1 1 2004, Pages 1506-1509 Comparison of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with sinus rhythm versus chronic atrial fibrillation. Molhoek SG, Bax JJ, Bleeker GB, Boersma E, van Erven L, Steendijk P, van der Wall EE, Schalij MJ
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a new therapeutic option for patients who have drug-refractory end-stage heart failure. Much information has been obtained from patients who have sinus rhythm, but the use of CRT in patients who have chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been studied extensively. Accordingly, we evaluated the clinical response and long-term survival rate of CRT in patients who had heart failure and chronic AF, and the results were compared with those in patients who had sinus rhythm and who underwent CRT. Sixty patients who had end-stage heart failure (30 had sinus rhythm and 30 had chronic AF), New York Heart Association classes III to IV, left ventricular ejection fraction <35%, QRS interval >120 ms, and a left bundle branch block received a biventricular pacemaker. New York Heart Association class, Minnesota Quality of Life score, and 6-minute walking distance were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months of CRT. Long-term follow-up was
