Changes in clinical and imaging variables during withdrawal of heart failure therapy in recovered dilated cardiomyopathy

Halliday, B. P. et al. (2022) Changes in clinical and imaging variables during withdrawal of heart failure therapy in recovered dilated cardiomyopathy. ESC Heart Failure, 9(3), pp. 1616-1624. (doi: 10.1002/ehf2.13872) (PMID:35257498) (PMCID:PMC9065828)

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to profile the changes in non-invasive clinical, biochemical, and imaging markers during withdrawal of therapy in patients with recovered dilated cardiomyopathy, providing insights into the pathophysiology of relapse. Methods and results: Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from patients during phased withdrawal of therapy in the randomized or single-arm cross-over phases of TRED-HF were profiled. Clinical variables were measured at each study visit and imaging variables were measured at baseline, 16 weeks, and 6 months. Amongst the 49 patients [35% women, mean age 53.6 years (standard deviation 11.6)] who withdrew therapy, 20 relapsed. Increases in mean heart rate [7.6 beats per minute (95% confidence interval, CI, 4.5, 10.7)], systolic blood pressure [6.6 mmHg (95% CI 2.7, 10.5)], and diastolic blood pressure [5.8 mmHg (95% CI 3.1, 8.5)] were observed within 4–8 weeks of starting to withdraw therapy. A rise in mean left ventricular (LV) mass [5.1 g/m2 (95% CI 2.8, 7.3)] and LV end-diastolic volume [3.9 mL/m2 (95% CI 1.1, 6.7)] and a reduction in mean LV ejection fraction [−4.2 (95% CI −6.6, −1.8)] were seen by 16 weeks, the earliest imaging follow-up. Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) fell immediately after withdrawing beta-blockers and only tended to increase 6 months after beginning therapy withdrawal [mean change in log NT-proBNP at 6 months: 0.2 (95% CI −0.1, 0.4)]. Conclusions: Changes in plasma NT-proBNP are a late feature of relapse, often months after a reduction in LV function. A rise in heart rate and blood pressure is observed soon after withdrawing therapy in recovered dilated cardiomyopathy, typically accompanied or closely followed by early changes in LV structure and function.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: TRED-HF was an investigator-led trial sponsored by Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust. The study was funded by a Clinical Research Training Fellowship from the British Heart Foundation (FS/15/29/31492) awarded to BPH and SKP and received additional support from the Alexander Jansons Foundation, the Cardiovascular Research Centre and NIHR Biomedical Research Unit at Royal Brompton Hospital, the NIHR Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre and grants from Rosetrees Trust awarded to SKP. BPH is also supported by a BHF Intermediate Fellowship (FS/ICRF/21/26019) and a Clinical Lecturer Starter Grant from the Academy of Medical Sciences (SGL021\1025). JGFC received support from a Centre of Research Excellence award from the British Heart Foundation (RE/18/6/34217).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cleland, Professor John
• Authors: Halliday, B. P., Owen, R., Gregson, J., Vazir, A., Wassall, R., Khalique, Z., Lota, A. S., Tayal, U., Hammersley, D. J., Jones, R. E., Pennell, D. J., Cowie, M. R., Cleland, J. G.F., and Prasad, S. K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
• Journal Name: ESC Heart Failure
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 2055-5822
• ISSN (Online): 2055-5822
• Published Online: 08 March 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in ESC Heart Failure 9(3): 1616-1624
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
303944		BHF Centre of Excellence	Colin Berry	British Heart Foundation (BHF)	RE/18/6/34217	CAMS - Cardiovascular Science