Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We tested whether management with metabolic cytoprotective and antiischemic agent trimetazidine may reduce readmissions in advanced heart failure (HF) patients through the possible improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) and filling pressure. METHODS: This was a single-center prospective open-label study. The study population included initially 40 patients with advanced HF and EF <30%, NYHA III-IV functional class, significant restriction of physical activity and at least 1 hospitalization during the last 12 months. After discharge patients were assigned to additional treatment with trimetazidine 80 mg/daily dose (20 patients) or standard guideline-based pharmacological therapy (20 patients). After enrollment patients underwent a total of four outpatient clinical and echocardiographic examinations (baseline before discharge, 2 weeks, 1, 3 and 6 months after the discharge). The echocardiographic assessment of EF and LV filling pressure by Tissue Doppler were performed blindly. RESULTS: At 6 months, trimetazidine-treated patients had an improvement of LV EF (from 23.7% to 25%) as compared to controls (from 22.5% to 22.6%). Tissue Doppler study showed a decrease of LV filling pressure in trimetazidine treated group from 15.1 at baseline to 13.7 after 6 months of treatment. In the control group, LV filling pressure remained unchanged (from 16.78 to 16.7) (P<0.001). The rate of hospitalizations for cardiovascular causes was reduced at 6 months (83.3% vs 70.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with trimetazidine 80 mg/daily in addition to standard guideline-based therapy for 6-months decreased hospitalization, improved systolic function and LV filling pressure in advanced HF patients.