title: Echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of isolated left ventricular noncompaction: case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: Isolated left ventricular noncompaction (IVNC) is a congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by a loosened spongy myocardium. Recognition of this condition is extremely important because of its high mortality and morbidity due to progressive heart failure, thromboembolic events, and ventricular arrhythmias. However, IVNC is commonly misdiagnosed because of the lack of knowledge about this rare disorder. We report 2 patients with the characteristic echocardiographic presentation for IVNC. Echocardiography is the procedure of choice to confirm the diagnosis and perform follow-up in patients with IVNC; therefore, it is important to make echocardiographers more familiar with this condition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Split University Hospital, Spincićeva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bozić
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fabijanić
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carević
authors.forename: Stojan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polić
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000077261:Carvedilol; D014859:Warfarin