Impact of baseline right ventricular function on the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy - A meta-analysis.

Baseline RV function potentially determines response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) but is not included in the current selection criteria for CRT. In this meta-analysis, we examine the value of echocardiographic indices of RV function as potential predictors of CRT outcomes in patients with standard indications for CRT. Baseline tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was consistently higher in CRT responders, and this association appears independent of age, sex, ischemic etiology of HF, and baseline left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This proof-of-concept meta-analysis of observational data may justify a more detailed assessment of RV function as an additional component in the selection process of CRT candidates.