title: Subendocardial fibrosis in left ventricular hypertrabeculation-cause or consequence?
abstract: Left ventricular noncompaction has been classified as a primary cardiomyopathy with a genetic origin. This condition is morphologically characterized by a thickened, two-layered myocardium with numerous prominent trabeculations and deep, intertrabecular recesses. Recently, it has become clear that these pathological characteristics extend across a continuum with left ventricular hypertrabeculation at one end of the spectrum.The histological findings include areas of interstitial fibrosis.We present a case of left ventricular hypertrabeculation which presented as sudden infant death syndrome. Histologically areas of subendocardial fibrosis was prominent and we propose that this entity may be a hidden cause of arrhythmic death in some infants presenting as sudden infant death syndrome., with areas of subendocardial fibrosis as possible arrhythmogenic foci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ker
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Du Toit-Prinsloo
authors.forename: W F P
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Van Heerden
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saayman