title: Echocardiographic comparison between left ventricular non-compaction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modern imaging technology has improved detection of left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) shares morphological features with LVNC, but prognosis and treatment strategies differ between LVNC and HCM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We aimed to compare global and regional LV myocardial function in LVNC and HCM. We hypothesized that apical function is reduced in LVNC due to the embryonic reduced compaction of the apex. We studied 25 patients with LVNC (47±14years) according to current criteria, 50 with HCM (47±14years) and 50 healthy individuals (49±19years). By echocardiography, we assessed maximal wall thickness (MWT) and LV ejection fraction (EF). Numbers of trabeculations were counted from 3 apical views. Global longitudinal strain by speckle tracking echocardiography was calculated from a 16 LV segments model. LV basal (6 segments) and apical (4 segments) longitudinal strains were averaged. MWT was thinner, EF lower and trabeculations were more pronounced in LVNC compared to HCM (all p<0.001) but with no significantly differences in LV global longitudinal strain (-15.1±6.1 vs. -16.8±3.7, p=0.14). Function by longitudinal strain increased significantly from base to apex in HCM (-14.9±4.3% vs. -19.5±4.7%, p<0.001) and in healthy controls (-20.0±1.9% vs. -21.8±2.9%, p<0.001), but not in LVNC (-14.7±6.4% vs. -15.7±7.2%, p=0.35).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased number of trabeculations, thinner MWT and lower EF were characteristics of LVNC. Myocardial function was homogeneously reduced in LVNC, while an apical to basal gradient with relatively preserved apical function was present in HCM. These characteristics may help to discriminate between LVNC and HCM.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiological Innovation, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Norway; Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Trine F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Haland
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiological Innovation, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Norway; Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jørg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saberniak
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiological Innovation, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ida S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Leren
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiological Innovation, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Norway; Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Thor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Edvardsen
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiological Innovation, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Norway; Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Kristina.Haugaa@rr-research.no.
authors.forename: Kristina H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Haugaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Left ventricular non-compaction; Regional myocardial function; Strain echocardiography