Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41814577›Full record

Trial reportESC heart failure2026

The ALT FLOW early feasibility study 3-year results assessing left atrial to coronary sinus shunting in HFpEF.

Francesco Fioretti, Benjamin Hibbert, Peter M Eckman, Trevor Simard, Marino Labinaz, Babak Nazer, Mark Wiley, Bhanu Gupta, Andrew J Sauer, Hirak Shah and 9 more

Abstract readClinical TrialMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in ESC heart failure, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Francesco FiorettiFrom the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, 3434 Live Oak St Ste 501, Dallas, TX 75204, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7174-8604
Benjamin HibbertDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0906-1363
Peter M EckmanDepartment of Cardiology, Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Trevor SimardDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Marino LabinazCAPITAL Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Babak NazerDivision of Cardiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Mark WileyCardiovascular Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Bhanu GuptaVirginia Mason Franciscan Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
Andrew J SauerSaint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Hirak ShahCardiovascular Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Paul SorajjaDepartment of Cardiology, Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6401-854X
Andres M PinedaDivision of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Emil MissovDivision of Cardiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
Lillian AldaiaDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ, USA.
Konstantinos KoulogiannisDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5889-0865
Ryan J TedfordDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9045-7722
William A GrayDepartment of Interventional Cardiology, Main Line Health/Lankenau Heart Institute, Wynnewood, PA, USA.
Firas ZahrKnight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8448-8880
Javed ButlerFrom the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, 3434 Live Oak St Ste 501, Dallas, TX 75204, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7683-4720

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionLeft atrial-to-coronary sinus (LA-to-CS) shunting through the APTURE transcatheter shunt system aims to unload the LA while preserving the interatrial septum. This article aims to examine the 3-year health status, functional capacity, and clinical outcomes of the ALT-FLOW Early Feasibility Study (EFS).

methodsDevice safety, patency, and echocardiographic parameters, but also symptoms, health status, and exercise capacity were assessed in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 40% (n & 95). Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) score predicted 3-year all-cause mortality was compared with observed mortality assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis using adjudicated events. Predicted and observed HF hospitalization (HFH)-free survival rates were also compared.

resultsAt 3 years, the safety profile remained stable with no new safety signals, and all implanted shunts remained patent. 76.3% of patients improved by at least one NYHA class, and mean KCCQ Overall Summary Scores increased by 25 points from baseline (P < .0001). The 6-min walk distance improved by an average of 39 m (P & .002). These benefits were consistent regardless of baseline pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Right heart echocardiographic parameters after 3 years were stable, though a reduction in TAPSE was observed, primarily in the high PVR subgroup. The observed 3-year survival was significantly higher than the MAGGIC-predicted survival (84.4% vs 70.2, respectively; P & .009), as well as the HFH-free survival (68.0% vs 24.0%, respectively; P < 0001).

conclusionIn patients with HF and LVEF >40%, the APTURE LA-to-CS shunting confirmed an acceptable safety profile with stable right heart parameters and sustained improvements in symptoms, quality of life, and functional capacity at 3 years. Observed survival and HFH were superior to MAGGIC predictions.

Indexed as

Cardiac CatheterizationCoronary SinusHeart AtriaHeart FailureStroke VolumeVentricular Function, LeftAgedEchocardiographyExercise ToleranceFeasibility StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleSurvival RateTime FactorsAll-cause mortalityCoronary sinusHeart failureHFHMAGGICShunt

Identifiers

PMID41814577
PMCPMC12998433

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.