The best degree of response achieved with the intensive-therapy protocol after treatment phases I, I to II, I to III, and I to IV, respectively, calculated on an intention-to-treat basis.

The median times from the start of VAD therapy until the evaluation of response after phases I, I to II, and I to III in patients who completed treatment according to the protocol were 3, 5, and 8 months, respectively. For patients not completing treatment according to the protocol, the same times were used for response evaluation.