Frits Prinzen

Professor

Frits Prinzen is emeritus professor of Physiology. He studied Medical Biology in Utrecht and defended his PhD in Maastricht in 1982. His research focusses on the relation between the electrical activation and mechanical contraction and pump function of the heart, with specific application to pacemaker therapies in heart failure. His work is highly translational, ranging from preclinical to clinical research and more recently also using computer simulations. Results from his work provided new insights in and opportunities for pacemaker therapies. He has participated in the CTMM-COHFAR consortium and has been and is workpackage leader in several EU-funded projects, including an International Training Network (Personalised in silico Cardiology). Several of his team members achieved personal grants (ZonMw Veni, Vidi, Clinical Fellow; Netherlands Heart Foundation junior and senior postdoc; young staff member). Besides, he ran multiple investigator-initiated studies that were funded by industry. He has been chairman of the Cardiovascular System Dynamics Society and of the Innovation Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). Currently he is member of the Scientific Initiatives Committee of EHRA. He is (co-)author on 330 scientific articles, with >10,000 citations and H-index of 56.

His main research topic is regional cardiac mechanics and long-term structural and functional adaptations to various conditions, with emphasis on asynchronous electrical activation and cardiac resynchronisation. Primarily animal experimental work, but with important links to Biomedical Engineering (computer models of cardiac electrophysiology and mechanics) and Cardiology (patients with pacemakers, bundle branch block, heart failure). With this background Prof. Frits Prinzen is a world expert on pacing therapies, both for bradycardia and for heart failure (cardiac resynchronisation therapy, CRT).

Department of Physiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
T: +31(0)43 3881080
  • 2017
    • Mafi-rad, M., Van‘t Sant, J., Blaauw, Y., Doevendans, P. A., Cramer, M. J., Crijns, H. J., Prinzen, F. W., Meine, M., & Vernooy, K. (2017). Regional Left Ventricular Electrical Activation and Peak Contraction Are Closely Related in Candidates for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 3(8), 854-862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2017.03.014
    • Nguyen, U. C., Maffessanti, F., Mafi-Rad, M., Conte, G., Zeemering, S., Regoli, F., Caputo, M. L., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Suerder, D., Moccetti, T., Krause, R., Prinzen', F. W., Vernooy', K., & Auricchio, A. (2017). Evaluation of the use of unipolar voltage amplitudes for detection of myocardial scar assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in heart failure patients. PLOS ONE, 12(7), Article 0180637. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180637
    • Burri, H., Prinzen, F. W., Gasparini, M., & Leclercq, C. (2017). Left univentricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy. EP Europace, 19(6), 912-919. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euw179
    • Pezzuto, S., Kal'avsky, P., Potse, M., Prinzen, F. W., Auricchio, A., & Krause, R. (2017). Evaluation of a Rapid Anisotropic Model for ECG Simulation. Frontiers in physiology, 8(MAY), Article 265. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2017.00265
    • Uitterdijk, A., Springeling, T., Hermans, K. C. M., Merkus, D., de Beer, V. J., Gorsse-Bakker, C., Mokelke, E., Daskalopoulos, E. P., Wielopolski, P. A., Cleutjens, J. P. M., Blankesteijn, W. M., Prinzen, F. W., van der Giessen, W. J., van Geuns, R.-J. M., & Duncker, D. J. (2017). Intermittent pacing therapy favorably modulates infarct remodeling. Basic Research in Cardiology, 112(3), Article 28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-017-0616-3
    • Pluijmert, M., Delhaas, T., de la Parra, A. F., Kroon, W., Prinzen, F. W., & Bovendeerd, P. H. M. (2017). Determinants of biventricular cardiac function: a mathematical model study on geometry and myofiber orientation. Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology, 16(2), 721-729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-016-0825-y
    • Nguyen, U. C., Mafi-Rad, M., Aben, J.-P., Smulders, M. W., Engels, E. B., van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Bekkers, S. C. A. M., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2017). A novel approach for left ventricular lead placement in cardiac resynchronization therapy: Intraprocedural integration of coronary venous electroanatomic mapping with delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Heart Rhythm, 14(1), 110-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2016.09.015
    • Schreurs, R., Wiegerinck, R. F., & Prinzen, F. W. (2017). Exploring the Electrophysiologic and Hemodynamic Effects of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: From Bench to Bedside and Vice Versa. Heart Failure Clinics, 13(1), 43-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hfc.2016.07.004
    • Evers, E. S., Walavalkar, V., Pujar, S., Balasubramanian, L., Prinzen, F. W., Delhaas, T., Vanagt, W. Y., & Maiya, S. (2017). Does heart-type fatty acid-binding protein predict clinical outcomes after pediatric cardiac surgery. Annals of Pediatric Cardiology, 10(3), 245-247. https://doi.org/10.4103/apc.APC_33_17
    • Cluitmans, M. J. M., Bonizzi, P., Karel, J. M. H., Das, M., Kietselaer, B. L. J. H., Jong, M. M. J. D., Prinzen, F. W., Peeters, R. L. M., Westra, R. L., & Volders, P. G. A. (2017). In Vivo Validation of Electrocardiographic Imaging. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 3(3), 232 - 242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2016.11.012
    • Poels, T. T., Kats, S., Veenstra, L., van Ommen, V., Maessen, J. G., & Prinzen, F. W. (2017). Reservations about the Selvester QRS score in left bundle branch block - Experience in patients with transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Journal of Electrocardiology, 50(2), 261-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2017.01.002
    • Vanagt, W., Amin, H., Brouwers, A., Pottgens, C. C. H., Wolfs, T., Cleutjens, J., Swennen, Q., Delhaas, T., & Prinzen, F. (2017). Sildenafil Postconditioning in a Rat Model of Ventricular Fibrillation/Resuscitation. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Cardiology, 8(6), 530. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9880.1000530
  • 2016
    • Tomini, F., Prinzen, F., & van Asselt, A. D. I. (2016). A review of economic evaluation models for cardiac resynchronization therapy with implantable cardioverter defibrillators in patients with heart failure. European Journal of Health Economics, 17(9), 1159-1172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-015-0752-3
    • Engels, E. B., Poels, T. T., Houthuizen, P., de Jaegere, P. P. T., Maessen, J. G., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. W. (2016). Electrical remodelling in patients with iatrogenic left bundle branch block. EP Europace, 18(Suppl_4), 44-52. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euw350
    • Favino, M., Pozzi, S., Pezzuto, S., Prinzen, F. W., Auricchio, A., & Krause, R. (2016). Impact of mechanical deformation on pseudo-ECG: a simulation study. EP Europace, 18, 77-84. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euw353
    • Pluijmert, M., Bovendeerd, P. H. M., Lumens, J., Vernooy, K., Prinzen, F., & Delhaas, T. (2016). New insights from a computational model on the relation between pacing site and CRT response. EP Europace, 18(Suppl_4), iv94–iv103. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euw355
    • Mast, T. P., Teske, A. J., Walmsley, J., van der Heijden, J. F., van Es, R., Prinzen, F. W., Delhaas, T., van Veen, T. A., Loh, P., Doevendans, P. A., Cramer, M. J., & Lumens, J. (2016). Right Ventricular Imaging and Computer Simulation for Electromechanical Substrate Characterization in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 68(20), 2185-2197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2016.08.061
    • Saporito, S., van Assen, H. C., Houthuizen, P., Aben, J.-P. M. M., Strik, M., van Middendorp, L. B., Prinzen, F. W., & Mischi, M. (2016). Assessment of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in left bundle branch block canine model: Comparison between cine and tagged MRI. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 44(4), 956-963. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.25225
    • Zanon, F., Marcantoni, L., Baracca, E., Pastore, G., Lanza, D., Fraccaro, C., Picariello, C., Conte, L., Aggio, S., Roncon, L., Pacetta, D., Badie, N., Noventa, F., & Prinzen, F. W. (2016). Optimization of left ventricular pacing site plus multipoint pacing improves remodeling and clinical response to cardiac resynchronization therapy at 1 year. Heart Rhythm, 13(8), 1644-1651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2016.05.015
    • Engels, E. B., Mafi-Rad, M., van Stipdonk, T., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. W. (2016). Why QRS Duration Should Be Replaced by Better Measures of Electrical Activation to Improve Patient Selection for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 9(4), 257-265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-016-9693-1
    • Vegh, E. M., Engels, E. B., van Deursen, C. J. M., Merkely, B., Vernooy, K., Singh, J. P., & Prinzen, F. W. (2016). T-wave area as biomarker of clinical response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. EP Europace, 18(7), 1077-1085. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euv259
    • Upendra Walavalkar, V., Evers, E., Pujar, S., Viralam, K., Maiya, S., Frerich, S., John, C., Rao, S., Reddy, C., Spronck, B., Prinzen, F., Delhaas, T., & Vanagt, W. Y. (2016). Preoperative Sildenafil administration in children undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled preconditioning study. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 49(5), 1403-1410. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezv353
    • Mafi-Rad, M., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Blaauw, Y., Janssen, M., Crijns, H. J., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2016). Feasibility and Acute Hemodynamic Effect of Left Ventricular Septal Pacing by Transvenous Approach Through the Interventricular Septum. Circulation-Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 9(3), Article e003344. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.115.003344
    • Walmsley, J., Huntjens, P. R., Prinzen, F. W., Delhaas, T., & Lumens, J. (2016). Septal flash and septal rebound stretch have different underlying mechanisms. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 310(3), H394-H403. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00639.2015
    • Zusterzeel, R., Selzman, K. A., Sanders, W. E., O'Callaghan, K. M., Canos, D. A., Vernooy, K., Prinzen, F. W., Gorgels, A., & Strauss, D. G. (2016). Toward Sex-Specific Guidelines for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy?Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 9(1), 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-015-9663-z
    • van Stipdonk, A. M. W., Rad, M. M., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Crijns, H. J., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2016). Identifying delayed left ventricular lateral wall activation in patients with non-specific intraventricular conduction delay using coronary venous electroanatomical mapping. Netherlands Heart Journal, 24(1), 58-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-015-0777-3
    • Wiegerinck, R. F., Schreurs, R., & Prinzen, F. W. (2016). Pathophysiology of dyssynchrony: of squirrels and broken bones. Netherlands Heart Journal, 24(1), 4-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-015-0765-7
    • Rad, M. M., Wijntjens, G. W. M., Engels, E. B., Blaauw, Y., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Pison, L., Crijns, H. J., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2016). Vectorcardiographic QRS area identifies delayed left ventricular lateral wall activation determined by electroanatomic mapping in candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Heart Rhythm, 13(1), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.07.033
    • Rademakers, L. M., van Hunnik, A., Kuiper, M., Vernooy, K., van Gelder, B., Bracke, F. A., & Prinzen, F. (2016). A Possible Role for Pacing the Left Ventricular Septum in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, 2(4), 413-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2016.01.010
  • 2015
    • Schreurs, R., Wiegerinck, R. F., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). Exploring the Electrophysiologic and Hemodynamic Effects of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: From Bench to Bedside and Vice Versa. Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics, 7(4), 599-608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccep.2015.08.012
    • Lumens, J., Prinzen, F. W., & Delhaas, T. (2015). Longitudinal Strain "Think Globally, Track Locally". JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging, 8(12), 1360-1363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2015.08.014
    • Sohal, M., Shetty, A., Niederer, S., Lee, A., Chen, Z., Jackson, T., Behar, J. M., Claridge, S., Bostock, J., Hyde, E., Razavi, R., Prinzen, F., & Rinaldi, C. A. (2015). Mechanistic insights into the benefits of multisite pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy: The importance of electrical substrate and rate of left ventricular activation. Heart Rhythm, 12(12), 2449-2457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.07.012
    • Lumens, J., Tayal, B., Walmsley, J., Delgado-Montero, A., Huntjens, P. R., Schwartzman, D., Althouse, A. D., Delhaas, T., Prinzen, F. W., & Gorcsan, J. (2015). Differentiating Electromechanical From Non-Electrical Substrates of Mechanical Discoordination to Identify Responders to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. Circulation-Cardiovascular Imaging, 8(9), Article e003744. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.115.003744
    • Walmsley, J., Arts, T., Derval, N., Bordachar, P., Cochet, H., Ploux, S., Prinzen, F. W., Delhaas, T., & Lumens, J. (2015). Fast Simulation of Mechanical Heterogeneity in the Electrically Asynchronous Heart Using the MultiPatch Module. PLoS Computational Biology, 11(7), Article e1004284. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004284
    • Kroon, W., Lumens, J., Potse, M., Suerder, D., Klersy, C., Regoli, F., Murzilli, R., Moccetti, T., Delhaas, T., Krause, R., Prinzen, F. W., & Auricchio, A. (2015). In vivo electromechanical assessment of heart failure patients with prolonged QRS duration. Heart Rhythm, 12(6), 1259-1267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.03.006
    • Lau, D. H., Volders, P. G. A., Kohl, P., Prinzen, F. W., Zaza, A., Kaeaeb, S., Oto, A., & Schotten, U. (2015). Opportunities and challenges of current electrophysiology research: a plea to establish 'translational electrophysiology' curricula. EP Europace, 17(5), 825-833. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euu301
    • Zanon, F., Baracca, E., Pastore, G., Marcantoni, L., Fraccaro, C., Lanza, D., Picariello, C., Aggio, S., Roncon, L., Dell'Avvocata, F., Rigatelli, G., Pacetta, D., Noventa, F., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). Multipoint pacing by a left ventricular quadripolar lead improves the acute hemodynamic response to CRT compared with conventional biventricular pacing at any site. Heart Rhythm, 12(5), 975-981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.01.034
    • van der Boon, R. M. A., Houthuizen, P., Urena, M., Poels, T. T., van Mieghem, N. M., Brueren, G. R. G., Altintas, S., Nuis, R. J., Serruys, P. W., van Garsse, L. A. F. M., van Domburg, R. T., Cabau, J. R., de Jaegere, P. P. T., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). Trends in the Occurrence of New Conduction Abnormalities After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation. Catheterization and Cardiovascular interventions, 85(5), 144-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccd.25765
    • van Deursen, C. J. M., Wecke, L., van Everdingen, W. M., Stahlberg, M., Janssen, M. H. G., Braunschweig, F., Bergfeldt, L., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). Vectorcardiography for Optimization of Stimulation Intervals in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 8(2), 128-137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-015-9615-7
    • Poels, T. T., Houthuizen, P., Van Garsse, L. A. F. M., Hamad, M. A. S., Maessen, J. G., Prinzen, F. W., & Van Straten, A. H. M. (2015). Frequency and prognosis of new bundle branch block induced by surgical aortic valve replacement. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 47(2), E47-E53. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezu435
    • Engels, E. B., Vegh, E. M., Van Deursen, C. J. M., Vernooy, K., Singh, J. P., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). T-Wave Area Predicts Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients with Left Bundle Branch Block. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 26(2), 176-183. https://doi.org/10.1111/jce.12549
    • Rad, M. M., Blaauw, Y., Trang Dinh, Pison, L., Crijns, H. J., Prinzen, F. W., & Vernooy, K. (2015). Left ventricular lead placement in the latest activated region guided by coronary venous electroanatomic mapping. EP Europace, 17(1), 84-93. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euu221
    • Uyen Chau Nguyen, Potse, M., Regoli, F., Caputo, M. L., Conte, G., Murzilli, R., Muzzarelli, S., Moccetti, T., Caiani, E. G., Prinzen, F. W., Krause, R., & Auricchio, A. (2015). An in-silico analysis of the effect of heart position and orientation on the ECG morphology and vectorcardiogram parameters in patients with heart failure and intraventricular conduction defects. Journal of Electrocardiology, 48(4), 617-625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2015.05.004
    • van Everdingen, W. M., Paiman, M.-L., van Deursen, C. J. M., Cramer, M. J., Vernooy, K., Delhaas, T., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). Comparison of septal strain patterns in dyssynchronous heart failure between speckle tracking echocardiography vendor systems. Journal of Electrocardiology, 48(4), 609-616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2014.12.021
    • Pluijmert, M., Lumens, J., Potse, M., Delhaas, T., Auricchio, A., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). Computer modelling for better diagnosis and therapy of patients by cardiac resynchronisation therapy. Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review, 4(1), 62-67. https://doi.org/10.15420/aer.2015.4.1.62
    • Engels, E. B., Alshehri, S., van Deursen, C. J. M., Wecke, L., Bergfeldt, L., Vernooy, K., & Prinzen, F. W. (2015). The synthesized vectorcardiogram resembles the measured vectorcardiogram in patients with dyssynchronous heart failure. Journal of Electrocardiology, 48(4), 586-592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2015.04.001
    • van Deursen, C. J. M., Vernooy, K., Dudink, E., Bergfeldt, L., Crijns, H. J. G. M., Prinzen, F. W., & Wecke, L. (2015). Vectorcardiographic QRS area as a novel predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Journal of Electrocardiology, 48(1), 45-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2014.10.003