Long-Term Effects of Sacubitril-Valsartan on Cardiac Remodeling: A Parallel Echocardiographic Study of Left and Right Heart Adaptive Response

Abstract

Sacubitril/Valsartan (S/V) carries potential anti-remodeling properties, however long-term effects and biventricular adaptive response are poorly described. 76 HFrEF patients who underwent progressive uptitration of S/V, completed the annual scheduled follow-up. After a median follow-up of 11 (8–13) months, left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (RR) is defined as (1) absolute increase in LV ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 10% or LVEF ≥ 50% at follow-up and (2) decrease in indexed LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDDi) of at least 10% or indexed LVEDDi ≤ 33 mm/m2, occurred in 27.6%. Non-ischemic etiology, shorter duration of HF, and absence of a history of AF were independently associated with LVRR (p < 0.05). TAPSE and TAPSE/PASP, a non-invasive index of right ventricular (RV) coupling to the pulmonary circulation, significantly improved at follow-up (0.45 vs. 0.56, p = 0.02). 41% of patients with baseline RV dysfunction obtained favorable RV remodeling despite only a moderate correlation between RV and LV function was observed (r = 0.478, p = 0.002). Our data point to a potential long-term reverse global remodeling effect by S/V, especially in patients who start S/V at an early stage of the disease, and focus our attention on a possible direct effect of the drug in synergistic hemodynamics between RV and pulmonary circulation.