Familial left ventricular hypertrabeculation in two blind brothers

Abstract

So far, left ventricular hypertrabeculation (LVHT) has been described to occur only sporadically. In a 49-year-old man with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) due to the primary LHON mutation G3460A, arterial hypertension was reported since 2000 and palpitations since 1995. ECG revealed Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac MRI showed myocardial thickening and LVHT. Pindolol markedly improved the cardiac abnormalities. Surprisingly, LVHT was also found in the 50-year-old brother of the index patient who also had LHON and also carried the G3460A mtDNA mutation. This brother also had Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome and myocardial thickening, but without hypertension. It is concluded that LVHT, previously described to occur only sporadically, may be hereditary in single cases.