Effects of Long-Acting Loop Diuretics in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction Patients With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Int Heart J. 2017 Apr 6;58(2):211-219. doi: 10.1536/ihj.16-290. Epub 2017 Mar 17.

Abstract

There have been no reports evaluating the impact of long-acting loop diuretics (LLD) on the outcome of heart failure (HF) and arrhythmia treatment in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients implanted with a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device.This was a prospective, single-blind, randomized crossover study. We allocated 21 consecutive CRT implanted patients into 2 groups. The furosemide group received furosemide as a first treatment and azosemide as a second treatment. The azosemide group received this treatment in the reverse order. The first treatment was given to each group for 6 months and the second treatment continued for an additional 6 months. We combined the data of each medication regimen in each group and analyzed it at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year. The primary endpoints were the variation of fluid index and thoracic impedance measured by CRT at 6 months.The baseline characteristics were similar for both groups. The difference in the primary endpoints was not statistically significant between the 2 medication arms (fluid index: -29.6 ± 64.4 versus 16.2 ± 48.2; P = 0.22, thoracic impedance: -0.49 ± 17.8 versus 2.45 ± 12.5; P = 0.56). Likewise, the clinical outcome of HF and the CRT derived parameters in both arms were comparable.HFrEF patients taking LLD after CRT implantation might be comparable to those taking short-acting loop diuretics in the treatment of HF and HF-associated arrhythmias.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / chemically induced*
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / complications
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Stroke Volume

Substances

  • Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors