title: Spontaneous regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in a rabbit model of aortic insufficiency: possible clinical implications.
abstract: The right timing of surgical intervention in patients with aortic insufficiency is the crucial precondition for optimal postoperative course. To meet this demand, it is essential to have precise knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease. Within the rabbit model of aortic insufficiency, four periods of adaptational changes to chronic haemodynamic overload were distinguished: developing hypertrophy, developed hypertrophy, regression of hypertrophy, and heart failure. The period of spontaneously developing regression of hypertrophy is linked with deterioration of function, metabolism, and structure of the left ventricle and represents an indication preceding heart failure. This paper presents the hypothesis that, in patients with severe aortic insufficiency, the left ventricle may undergo spontaneous regression of hypertrophy. Detection of this period may contribute to the insight into the pathogenesis of this disease and help to identify the patients who are candidates for surgery. Moreover, the onset of left ventricular diminution might represent the optimal phase for this intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000209:etiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011379:Prognosis; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors