Left ventricular hypertrophy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Left ventricular hypertrophy Classification and external resources |
|
| ICD-10 | I51.7 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 429.3 |
| DiseasesDB | 7659 |
| MeSH | D017379 |
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the thickening of the myocardium (muscle) of the left ventricle of the heart.
Contents |
[edit] Causes
While ventricular hypertrophy occurs naturally as a reaction to aerobic exercise and strength training, it is most frequently referred to as a pathological reaction to cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure.[1]
While LVH itself is not a disease, it is usually a marker for disease involving the heart.[2] Disease processes that can cause LVH include any disease that increases the afterload that the heart has to contract against, and some primary diseases of the muscle of the heart.
Causes of increased afterload that can cause LVH include aortic stenosis, aortic insufficiency, and hypertension. Primary disease of the muscle of the heart that cause LVH are known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, which can lead into heart failure.
[edit] Diagnosis
The principal method to diagnose LVH is echocardiography, during which the thickness of the muscle of the heart can be measured. The electrocardiogram (ECG) often shows signs of increased voltage from the heart in individuals with LVH, so this is often used as a screening test to determine who should undergo further testing with an echocardiogram.
[edit] Echocardiography
Two dimensional echocardiography can produce images of the left ventricle. The thickness of the left ventricle as visualized on echocardiography correlates with its actual mass. Normal thickness of the left ventricular myocardium is from 0.6 to 1.1 cm (as measured at the very end of diastole. If the myocardium is more than 1.1 cm thick, the diagnosis of LVH can be made.
[edit] ECG criteria for LVH
There are multiple criteria used to diagnose LVH via electrocardiography. None of them are perfect. However, by using multiple different criteria the sensitivity and specificity are increased.
The Sokolow and Lyon criteria[3][4]
- S in V1 + R in V5 or V6 (whichever is larger) =/> 35 mm
- R in aVL =/> 11 mm
The Cornell criteria[5] for the ECG diagnosis of LVH involves measurement of the sum of the R wave in lead aVL and the S wave in lead V3. The Cornell criteria for LVH are:
- S in V3 + R in aVL > 28 mm (men)
- S in V3 + R in aVL > 20 mm (women)
Other voltage-based criteria for LVH include:
- Lead I: R wave > 14 mm
- Lead aVR: S wave > 15 mm
- Lead aVL: R wave > 12 mm
- Lead aVF: R wave > 21 mm
- Lead V5: R wave > 26 mm
- Lead V6: R wave > 20 mm
[edit] Treatment
The enlargement is not permanent in all cases, and in some cases the growth can regress with the reduction of blood pressure.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Ask the doctor: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ Meijs MF, Bots ML, Vonken EJ, et al (2007). "Rationale and design of the SMART Heart study: A prediction model for left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension". Neth Heart J 15 (9): 295–8. PMID 18030317.
- ^ Sokolow M, Lyon TP. The ventriculAR complex in left ventricular hypertrophy as obtained by unipolar precordial and limb leads. Am Heart J. 1949;37:161–186.
- ^ Time-Voltage QRS Area of the 12-Lead Electrocardiogram : Detection of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy -- Okin et al. 31 (4): 937 -- Hypertension. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
- ^ Casale PN, Devereux RB, Alonso DR, Campo E, Kligfield P (1987). "Improved sex-specific criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy for clinical and computer interpretation of electrocardiograms: validation with autopsy findings". Circulation 75 (3): 565-72. PMID 2949887.
- ^ Gradman AH, Alfayoumi F (2006). "From left ventricular hypertrophy to congestive heart failure: management of hypertensive heart disease". Prog Cardiovasc Dis 48 (5): 326–41. doi:. PMID 16627048.
[edit] Further reading
- Marriott, Henry J. L.; Wagner, Galen S. (2001). Marriott's practical electrocardiography. Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0683307460.
 |
This cardiovascular system article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
