Eur J Heart Fail. 2022 Mar 18. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2489. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) improves left ventricular (LV) function in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Yet, the effect of FCM on right ventricular (RV) function remains insufficiently elucidated.
METHODS: This is a predefined analysis of the IRON-CRT trial in which symptomatic HFrEF patients with iron deficiency and reduced LV ejection (LVEF) despite optimal medical therapy and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) underwent 1:1-randomization to FCM or placebo in a double blind fashion. RV function was measured as the change from baseline to 3-month follow-up of RV fractional area change (FAC), TAPSE and RV S’, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and its coupling to the RV (TAPSE/SPAP-ratio). The RV-contractile reserve was measured as the change in TAPSE during incremental pacing at 70, 90 and 110 Bpm.
RESULTS: A total of 75 patients underwent randomization and received FCM(n= 37) or placebo(n=38). At baseline 72.5% had RV dysfunction and 70% had RV dilatation. At 3-month follow-up patients receiving FCM had a significant improvement in RV FAC (Placebo=-2.2%[-4.9%-+0.6%] vs FCM=+4.1%[+1.4%-+6.9%], p=0.002) and TAPSE (placebo=-0.19mm[-0.85mm-+0.48mm] vs FCM=+0.98mm[+0.28mm-+1.62mm], p=0.020), but not RV S’. Patients receiving FCM had a numerically lower SPAP (p=0.073) and significant improvement in TAPSE/SPAP-ratio (placebo= +0.002[-0.046-+0.051] vs FCM= +0.097[+0.048-+0.146], p=0.008). At baseline both groups had diminished RV-contractile reserve during incremental pacing, which was attenuated at 3-month follow-up in the FCM group (p=0.004). Patients manifesting more RV function improvement were more likely to exhibit higher degrees of LVEF-improvement (p<0.05 for all).
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with FCM in HFrEF patients results in an improvement in RV function and structure and improves the RV-contractile reserve.
PMID:35303390 | DOI:10.1002/ejhf.2489
