title: Saw-tooth cardiomyopathy.
abstract: We present an unusual case of cardiomyopathy in a two month old male infant with a grade-I systolic murmur. Echocardiographic examination disclosed left ventricular (LV), dysplasia with saw-tooth like inwards myocardial projections extending from the lateral walls towards the LV cavity. There was mild LV systolic dysfunction with apical hypokinesia. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance demonstrated in detail these cross bridging muscular projections originating from the inferior interventricular septum and lateral LV wall, along with areas of hypokinesis at the LV septum and apex in a noncoronary distribution, without any late gadolinium enhancement. We have termed this condition saw-tooth cardiomyopathy because of the very characteristic appearance.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Patras University Hospital, Rion, Greece. pdav@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Periklis A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Davlouros
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Danias
authors.forename: Ageliki A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Karatza
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kiaffas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006337:Heart Murmurs / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D054088:Ventricular Septum / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents