Persistence of Restrictive Left Ventricular Filling Pattern in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: An Ominous Prognostic Sign

Objectives. We sought to assess the prognostic implications of the evolution of restrictive left ventricular filling pattern (RFP) in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Background. Previous work has demonstrated that RFP in DCM is associated with poor prognosis. Few dat are available on the prognostic implications of the evolution of this pattern. Methods. The evolution of left ventricular filling was studied by Doppler echocardiography in 110 patients with DCM. According to the left ventricular filling pattern at presentation and after 3 months of treatment, the patients were classified into three groups: Group 1 (n = 24) had persistent restrictive filling; Group 1B (n = 29) had reversible restrictive filling; and Group 2 (n = 57) had nonrestrictive filling. Results. During follow-up (41 ± 20 months), mortality plus heart transplantation was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Groups 1B and 2 (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, the model incorporating E wave deceleration time at 3 months was more powerful at predicting mortality with respect to this variable at baseline (p = 0.0039). Clinical improvement at 1 and 2 years was significantly more frequent in Groups 1B and 2 than in Group 1 (p < 0.0001 at 2 years). Conclusions. In patients with DCM, the persistence of restrictive filling at 3 months is associated with high mortality and transplantation rate. The patients with reversible restrictive filling have high probability of improvement and excellent survival. Doppler echocardiographic reevaluation of these patients after 3 months of therapy gives additional prognostic information with respect to the initial study.