[Clinical characterization and outcome of patients with noncompaction of ventricular myocardium].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical features and outcome of patients with noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM).


METHODS
Clinical manifestations, electrocardiograms and echocardiographies data were analyzed in 18 patients with NVM. Mean follow-up period was (11 +/- 5) months.


RESULTS
The patients aged from 1.5 to 71 years, 66.7% patients were males, familial history was observed in 2 cases, congestive heart failure was present in 14 cases, thromboembolic event occurred in 1 patient, arrhythmia induced syncopes were diagnosed in 2 patients and 1 patient was asymptomatic. Abnormal electrocardiograms were observed in all patients, including premature ventricular beats (7 cases), heart block (4 cases), and atrial fibrillations (4 cases). Echocardiographies showed that noncompaction of ventricular myocardium localized in the left ventricle in 17 patients, and right ventricle in 1 patient. The extension of noncompaction myocardium was predominantly at the apex (72%). N/C was 2.3 - 3.1. EF was less than 50% in 15 patients. Hypokinetic movements were observed in both noncompacted and compacted segments. During the follow-up, 1 patient with congestive heart failure received heart transplantation. ICD was implanted in one patient due to ventricular tachycardia. One patient suffered from sudden cardiac death.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common clinical presentations of NVM are congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and thromboembolism. Echocardiography is considered as the best tool for the diagnosis of NVM. ICD, heart transplantation and anticoagulation therapy could improve the prognosis of patients with NVM in selected cases.
He
Tao
T
Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Zeng
He-song
HS
Le
Wei-bo
WB
Li
Xiao-huan
XH
Lu
Zai-ying
ZY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult