Electrical remodeling in left ventricular hypertrophy-is there a unifying hypothesis for the variety of electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy?
Although electrocardiography has been used to estimate left ventricular hypertrophy and to obtain useful prognostic information in different clinical settings, its correlation with left ventricular mass is poor and, therefore, its sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of left ventricylar hypertrophy are low. Experimental work has demonstrated that the increase in voltage and duration of the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram are not only related to left ventricular mass but also to changes in the electrophysiological properties of the myocardium. Therefore, a new strategy is needed to use electrocardiography not to estimate left ventricular mass but aimed to add useful prognostic information.
Cardiac Unit, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo, Avda. Barber 30, 45005, Toledo, Spain. lrpadial@gmail.com
Luis
L
Rodriguez-Padial
Ljuba
L
Bacharova
D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology