Efficacy on resynchronization and longitudinal contractile function comparing His-bundle pacing with conventional biventricular pacing: a substudy to the His-alternative study

Abstract Aims His-bundle pacing has emerged as a novel method to deliver cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, there are no data comparing conventional biventricular (BiV)-CRT with His-CRT with regard to effects on mechanical dyssynchrony and longitudinal contractile function. Methods and results Patients with symptomatic heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%, and left bundle branch block (LBBB) by strict ECG criteria were randomized 1:1 to His-CRT or BiV-CRT. Two-dimensional strain echocardiography was performed prior to CRT implantation and at 6 months after implantation. Differences in changes in mechanical dyssynchrony (standard deviation of time-to-peak in 12 midventricular and basal segments) and regional longitudinal strain in the six left ventricular walls were compared between the BiV-CRT and His-CRT groups. In the on-treatment analysis, 31 received BiV-CRT and 19 His-CRT. In both groups, mechanical dyssynchrony was significantly reduced after 6 months [BiV group from 120 ms (±45) to 63 ms (±22), P < 0.001, and His group from 116 ms (±54) to 49 ms (±11), P < 0.001] but no significant differences in changes could be demonstrated between groups [−9.0 ms (−36; 18), P = 0.50]. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) improved in both groups [BiV group from −9.1% (±2.7) to −10.7% (±2.6), P = 0.02, and His group from −8.6% (±2.1) to −11.1% (±2.0), P < 0.001], but no significant differences in changes could be demonstrated from baseline to follow-up [−0.9% (−2.4; −0.6), P = 0.25] between groups. There were no regional differences between groups. Conclusion In heart failure, patients with LBBB, BiV-CRT, and His-CRT have comparable effects with regard to improvements in mechanical dyssynchrony and longitudinal contractile function.