Reduction of heart rate in patients with heart failure aiming to improve ventricular-arterial coupling

We appreciated the comment by Dr. Guarraccino et al. regarding our previous Review [1]. Ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) is expression of left ventricular (LV) loading status, a determinant of stroke volume (SV). Heart rate (HR) reduction by ivabradine in a sub-analysis of the SHIFT trial has demonstrated to improve total arterial compliance, decreasing effective arterial elastance without affecting end-systolic elastance [2]. Thus, they demonstrated that ivabradine improves VAC and SV.
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research