American Heart Journal RSS feed: Articles in Press. The American Heart Journal will consider for publication suitable articles on topics pertaining to the broad discipline of cardiovascular disease. Our goal is to provide the reader primary investigation, scholarly review, and opinion concerning the practice of cardiovascular medicine. We especially encourage submission of 3 types of reports that are not frequently seen in cardiovascular journals: negative clinical studies, reports on study designs, and studies involving the organization of medical care. The Journal does not accept individual case reports or original articles involving bench laboratory or animal research. http://www.ahjonline.com//inpress?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. American Heart Journal0002-87032012-01-20 © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.ahjonline.com/article/PIIS0002870311008738/abstract?rss=yesBackground: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective in patients with heart failure, but 30% to 50% of subjects are classified as nonresponders. Identifying responders remains a challenging task.Aims: The LODO-CRT trial investigated the association between left ventricular contractile reserve (LVCR) and clinical and echocardiographic long-term CRT response.Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective, observational study. Left ventricular contractile reserve was detected using a dobutamine stress echocardiography test, defined as an ejection fraction increase of >5 points. Clinical CRT response was defined as the absence of major cardiovascular events (ie, cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization). Echocardiographic response was defined as a left ventricle end-systolic volume reduction of >10%.Results: A total of 221 CRT-indicated patients were studied (80% presented LVCR). During a mean follow-up of 15 ± 5 months, 17 patients died and 16 were hospitalized due to heart failure. The proportion of clinical responders was 155 (88%) of 177 and 33 (75%) of 44 (P = .036) in the groups with and without LVCR, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant difference in cardiac survival/hospitalization between patients with and without LVCR. The proportion of echocardiographic responders was 144 (87%) of 166 and 16 (42%) of 38 in the groups with and without LVCR (P < .001), respectively; LVCR showed 90% sensitivity and 87% positive predictive value to prefigure echocardiographic CRT responders. Multivariable analysis identified LVCR and interventricular dyssynchrony as independent predictors of CRT response. The concomitant presence of both factors showed 99% specificity and 83% sensitivity in detecting responders.Conclusion: The presence of LVCR helps in predicting a clinical and echocardiographic CRT response. Concomitant assessment of LVCR and interventricular dyssynchrony accurately stratifies responder and nonresponder patients.Low-dose dobutamine test associated with interventricular dyssynchrony: A useful tool to identify cardiac resynchronization therapy responders: Data from the LOw dose DObutamine stress-echo test in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (LODO-CRT) phase 2 study - Corrected ProofMaurizio Gasparini, Carmine Muto, Saverio Iacopino, Francesco Zanon, Cosimo Dicandia, Giuseppe Distefano, Stefano Favale, Carlo Peraldo Neja, Renato Bragato, Mario Davinelli, Lorenza Mangoni, Alessandra Denaro10.1016/j.ahj.2011.11.015American Heart Journal (2012)2012-01-20American Heart Journal2012-01-20