AIMS

The Speckle Tracking and Resynchronization (STAR) study used a prospective multi-centre design to test the hypothesis that speckle-tracking echocardiography can predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied 132 consecutive CRT patients with class III and IV heart failure, ejection fraction (EF) < or =35%, and QRS > or =120 ms from three international centres. Baseline dyssynchrony was evaluated by four speckle tracking strain methods; radial, circumferential, transverse, and longitudinal (> or =130 ms opposing wall delay for each). Pre-specified outcome variables were EF response and three serious long-term events: death, transplant, or left ventricular assist device. Of 120 patients (91%) with baseline dyssynchrony data, both short-axis radial strain and transverse strain from apical views were associated with favourable EF response 7 +/- 4 months and long-term outcome over 3.5 years (P < 0.01). Radial strain had the highest sensitivity at 86% for predicting EF response with a specificity of 67%. Serious long-term unfavourable events occurred in 20 patients after CRT, and happened three times more frequently in those who lacked baseline radial or transverse dyssynchrony than in patients with dyssynchrony (P < 0.01). Patients who lacked both radial and transverse dyssynchrony had unfavourable clinical events occur in 53%, in contrast to events occurring in 12% if baseline dyssynchrony was present (P < 0.01). Circumferential and longitudinal strains predicted response when dyssynchrony was detected, but failed to identify dyssynchrony in one-third of patients who responded to CRT.

CONCLUSION

Dyssynchrony by speckle-tracking echocardiography using radial and transverse strains is associated with EF response and long-term outcome following CRT.