Left Bundle Branch Pacing as Initial Therapy in Patients With Non-ischemic Heart Failure and Left Bundle Branch Block (LIT-HF Study)
The present study will recruit 50 symptomatic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below 35% and complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB), who have not received complete guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Each patient was randomized to 2 groups, GDMT or left bundle branch pacing combined with GDMT (LBBP+GDMT) as initial therapy and was followed up for 2 phases: 0-6 months (phase I), 7-18 months (phase II). The primary objective is to compare the LVEF change , syncope and malignant ventricular arrhythmias between GDMT group and LBBP+GDMT group, and to observe which strategy will significantly reduce the percentage of recommendations for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) during phase I study. The second outcome measures including health economics, echocardiography parameters\[left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV)\], N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), quality of life score(QOL) and incidence of clinical adverse events.
• Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with LVEF≤35% as assessed by echocardiography, NYHA class II-III, and less than 3 months of optimized (complete) GDMT\*;
• Sinus rhythm (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may be present) with complete left bundle branch block meeting STRAUSS's criteria;
• Between the ages of 18 and 80;
• With informed consent signed.