Mechanical support in dilated cardiomyopathy: signs of early left ventricular recovery.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports have documented left ventricular recovery in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy off-loaded long term with a left ventricular assist device. We sought to document the natural history of left ventricular recovery. METHODS: We implanted the TCI left ventricular assist device without the intention to perform transplantation in 2 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who had been rejected for transplantation. Both were in New York Heart Association functional class IV and had renal failure. One was a diabetic. We studied left ventricular function with detailed echocardiography at 4, 6, and 8 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: With the left ventricular assist device turned off, we observed a progressive increase in myocardial contractility beginning as early as 4 weeks after implantation and improving progressively. Histologic examination showed resolution of myocytolysis in both patients. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular recovery begins earlier than was previously suspected. Mechanical bridge to myocardial recovery is a potential approach to therapy for such patients.