Assessment Of Left Ventricular Mass Research Articles

Prognostic value of left ventricular mass measured on coronary computed tomography angiography.

Left ventricular (LV) mass is a well-established prognostic indicator for cardiovascular risk. Measurement of LV mass on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is considered optional. We aimed to assess for associations between LV mass measured on CCTA with all-cause mortality (ACM) risk and to determine age- and sex-specific distributions. We evaluated patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CCTA at a single center. We assessed age- and sex-specific distributions (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles) of LV mass index. ACM, the primary endpoint, was recorded over a median period of 5.1 [interquartile range: 1.4-8.4] years. The association between LV mass and mortality risk was assessed using multivariable Cox models adjusted for age, sex, medical history, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and CCTA stenosis. 4187 patients (mean age: 61.9​±​11.7, 63​% male) were included. Male sex, African American ethnicity, Hypertension, CAC>400, and smoking were independent predictors of increased LV mass index. During the median 5.1 years of study follow, 265 (6.3​%) deaths occurred. Increased LV mass index percentiles were associated with increased risk of ACM. The addition of LV mass index percentiles improved discrimination and reclassification for mortality prediction over a model with age, sex, conventional risk factors, CAC score and CCTA stenosis severity (X2 improvement: 22.68, NRI: 28​%, both p​<​0.001). In a large sample of patients without known CAD who underwent CCTA, increased LV mass index provided independent and incremental prognostic value for all-cause mortality. Assessment of LV mass by CCTA, considering age and gender distribution, can be utilized clinically to identify patients with high myocardial mass.

Assessment of coronary blood volume to left ventricular mass ratio: a comparative study among endurance athletes, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients and healthy controls

Abstract Background Pathologic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) may lead to a mismatch between left ventricular mass (LVM) and blood supply, potentially reducing coronary flowreserve. Typically, assessing this involves complex or invasive methods. Objective We assessed epicardial coronary blood volume (CBV) to LVM ratio (V/M) using coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography in athletes, HCM patients, and healthy controls. Methods A total of 169 individuals without obstructive coronary artery disease were included, comprising 39 endurance athletes, 55 HCM patients, and 79 healthy controls. Automated detection of the epicardial coronary tree facilitated the calculation of CBV, enabling the assessment of LVM and subsequent comparison of the V/M ratio. Results HCM patients had the highest LVM (242g ±115), followed by athletes (145g ±33.35) and healthy controls (106g ±22.53), the corresponding CBV were: (7ml ±2.09 ml), (6.35±1.68 ml), and (4.43±0.93 ml); respectively. V/M ratios were similar in athletes (0.04 ±0.01 ml/m2), and controls (0.04 ±0.01, P= 0.298 ml/m2), but were significantly lower in HCM patients (0.03 ±0.01, P&amp;lt;0.001 ml/m2). CBV and LVM significantly corelated among the three group (Figure). Conclusions Contrast CT findings reveal that unlike HCM patients with pathological LVH, athletes exhibit sufficient increase in CBV relative to LVM thereby maintaining normal V/M ratio.

Circulating fibrocyte levels correlate with left ventricular mass in middle-aged healthy adults without hypertension

BackgroundFibrocytes, circulating bone-marrow derived cells that differentiate into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, are a major source of hypertensive arterial fibrosis and correlate with left ventricular (LV) mass in subjects with hypertension. We tested whether circulating fibrocytes levels correlate with LV mass in middle-aged adults without hypertension. MethodsWe measured peripheral blood fibrocyte levels and their activated phenotypes in 13 middle-aged, non-hypertensive adults and performed cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to assess LV mass. ResultsThere was a strong correlation between total fibrocyte levels (CD45 + Col1+) and LV mass index (r = 0.71, p = 0.006), as well as fibrocyte subsets expressing the chemokine markers CCR2 (r = 0.60, p = 0.032), CCR5 (r = 0.62, p = 0.029), CCR7 (r = 0.60, p = 0.034), co-expression of CXCR4 and CCR2 (r = 0.62, p = 0.029), α-SMA+ (r = 0.57, p = 0.044), CD133 (r = 0.59, p = 0.036), and pSTAT6 (r = 0.64, p = 0.032). ConclusionsCirculating fibrocytes are associated with LV mass index in middle-aged, non-hypertensive adults and may be a harbinger for the development of hypertension.

Left ventricular mass as a modulator of ventricular arrhythmia risk and sex differences after CRT for nonischemic cardiomyopathy and LBBB

BackgroundThe risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been associated with ischemic disease/scar, sex, and possibly left ventricular mass (LVM). ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate sex differences and baseline/postimplant change in LVM on VA risk after CRT implantation in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block. MethodsIn patients meeting the criteria, baseline and follow-up echocardiographic images were obtained for LVM assessment. VA events were reported from device diagnostics and therapies. VA risk was stratified by receiver operating characteristic (Youden index cutoff point) for baseline LVM and baseline/postimplant change in LVM. Multivariate Cox regression model was also used for VA risk stratification. ResultsOne hundred eighteen patients (71 female patients [60.2%]; mean age 60.5 ± 11.3 years; left ventricular ejection fraction 19.2% ± 7.0%; QRS duration 165.6 ± 20 ms; LVM 313.9 ± 108.8 g) were enrolled and followed up for a median of 90 months (interquartile range 44–158 months). Thirty-five patients (29.6%) received appropriate shocks or antitachycardia pacing at a median of 73.5 months (interquartile range 25–130 months) postimplantation. Males had a higher VA incidence (male patients 18 of 47 [38.3%] vs female patients 17 of 71 [23.9%]; P = .02). Baseline LVM > 308.9 g separated patients with higher VA risk (P = .001). Less than a 20% decrease in LVM increased VA risk (P < .001). Baseline LVM was the only baseline characteristic predicting VA events in the Cox regression model (hazard ratio 1.01; 95% confidence interval 1.001–1.009; log-rank, P = .003). Sex differences in VA risk were eliminated by the baseline LVM parameters. ConclusionVA risk after CRT implantation in nonischemic cardiomyopathy was associated with baseline LV > 308.9 g and a decrease in LVM ≤ 20%, without sex differences.

Sex-Related Differences in Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents with Overweight or Obesity.

Pediatric obesity is closely associated with cardiometabolic comorbidities, but the role of sex in this relationship is less investigated. We aimed to evaluate sex-related differences on cardiometabolic risk factors and preclinical signs of target organ damage in adolescents with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). The main cross-sectional study included 988 adolescents (510 boys and 478 girls) with OW/OB aged 10-18 years. In all youths clinical and biochemical variables were evaluated and an abdominal echography was performed. Echocardiographic data for the assessment of left ventricular mass (LVM) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were available in an independent sample of 142 youths (67 boys and 75 girls), while echographic data of carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) were available in 107 youths (59 boys and 48 girls). The three samples did not differ for age, body mass index, and sex distribution. In the main sample, boys showed higher waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) values (p 0.0001) and fasting glucose levels (p = 0.002) than girls. Lower levels of estimates glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were found in girls vs boys (p 0.0001). No sex-related differences for prediabetes and hyperlipidemia were observed. A higher prevalence of WHtR 0.60 (57.3% vs 49.6%, p = 0.016) and fatty liver disease (FLD) (54.5% vs 38.3%, p 0.0001) as well as a trend for high prevalence of hypertension (40.4 vs 34.7%, p = 0.06) were observed in boys vs girls. More, a higher prevalence of mild reduced eGFR (MReGFR) ( 90 mL/min/1.73 ) was observed in girls vs boys (14.6% vs 9.6 %, p 0.0001). In the sample with echocardiographic evaluation, boys showed higher levels of LVM (p = 0.046), and RWT (p = 0.003) than girls. Again, in the sample with carotid echography, boys showed higher levels of cIMT as compared to girls (p = 0.011). Adolescent boys with OW/OB showed higher risk of abdominal adiposity, FLD, and increased cardiac and vascular impairment than girls, whereas the latter had a higher risk of MReGFR. Risk stratification by sex for cardiometabolic risk factors or preclinical signs of target organ damage should be considered in youths with OW/OB.

Impact of the Increase in Left Ventricular Mass on the Risk of Long-Term Cardiovascular Mortality: a Prospective Cohort Study.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, and evidence has been obtained that an increase of a normal left ventricular mass (LVM) or new-onset LVH over time augments cardiovascular outcomes. We addressed this issue in a sample of a general population at relatively low cardiovascular risk. We analyzed subjects with normal echocardiographic LVM enrolled in the PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni) study to follow the increase of LVM over time and assess the prognostic impact of this change on the incidence of cardiovascular events (mean follow-up 18.5 years). In 990 subjects with no LVH at baseline, there was a significant average increase of LVM (21.2%), LVMIBSA (18.9%), and LVMIHT (22.3%) more than 10 years later. About a quarter developed LVH. The LVMIBSA change exhibited an association with the cardiovascular risk mortality during the following 18.5 years, and the association remained significant after adjustment for confounders (hazard ratio, 1.2 [1.0-1.5]). Similar findings were obtained for LVM in absolute values or indexed for height. The association was seen in both genders, but the link with the cardiovascular risk was statistically significant in males only. Thus, although over 10 years, the LVM increase does not reach a LVH status, it is associated with an augmented cardiovascular mortality risk. This suggests that it might be important to consider periodical LVM assessment, even when LVM is within the normal range, to timely detect its increase and cope with the need of cardiovascular risk restratification.

Obesity, hypertension, and tobacco use associated with left ventricular remodeling and hypertrophy in South African women: Birth to Twenty Plus Cohort

BackgroundLeft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a marker of increased risk in developing future life-threatening cardiovascular disease (CVD), however, it is unclear how CVD risk factors, such as obesity, blood pressure (BP), and tobacco use, are associated with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and LVH in urban African populations. Therefore, we aimed to identify the prevalence of LVH as well as the health factors associated with LV remodeling and LVH, within black South African adult women and their pre-pubescent children.MethodsBlack female adults (n = 123; age: 29–68 years) and their children (n = 64; age: 4–10; 55% female) were recruited from the Birth to Twenty Plus Cohort in Soweto, South Africa. Tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity, presence of diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and medication were self-reported. Height, weight, and blood pressure were measured in triplicate to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension respectively. Echocardiography was used to assess LV mass at end-diastole, based on linear measurements, and indexed to body surface area to determine LVH.ResultsHypertension and obesity prevalences were 35.8% and 59.3% for adults and 45.3% and 6.3% for children. Self-reported tobacco use in adults was 22.8%. LVH prevalence was 35.8% in adults (75% eccentric: 25% concentric), and 6.3% in children. Concentric remodeling was observed in 15.4% of adults, however, concentric remodeling was only found in one child. In adults, obesity [OR: 2.54 (1.07–6.02; p = 0.02)] and hypertension [3.39 (1.08–10.62; p = 0.04)] significantly increased the odds of LVH, specifically eccentric LVH, while concentric LVH was associated with self-reported tobacco use [OR: 4.58 (1.18–17.73; p = 0.03)]. Although no logistic regression was run within children, of the four children LVH, three had elevated blood pressure and the child with normal blood pressure was overweight.ConclusionsThe association between obesity, hypertension, tobacco use, and LVH in adults, and the 6% prevalence of LVH in children, calls for stronger public health efforts to control risk factors and monitor children who are at risk.

Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage: Prevalence, Correlates, and Prognosis in the Community.

Guidelines emphasize screening people with elevated BP for the presence of end-organ damage. We characterized the prevalence, correlates, and prognosis of hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) in the community-based Framingham Study. 7898 participants (mean age 51.6 years, 54% women) underwent assessment for the following HMOD: electrocardiographic and echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal brain imaging findings consistent with vascular injury, increased carotid intima-media thickness, elevated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, reduced kidney function, microalbuminuria, and low ankle-brachial index. We characterized HMOD prevalence according to blood pressure (BP) categories defined by four international BP guidelines. Participants were followed up for incidence of cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of HMOD varied positively with systolic BP and pulse pressure but negatively with diastolic BP; it increased with age, was similar in both sexes, and varied across BP guidelines based on their thresholds defining hypertension. Among participants with hypertension, elevated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was the most prevalent HMOD (40%-60%), whereas low ankle-brachial index was the least prevalent (<5%). Left ventricular hypertrophy, reduced kidney function, microalbuminuria, increased carotid intima-media thickness, and abnormal brain imaging findings had an intermediate prevalence (20%-40%). HMOD frequently clustered within individuals. On follow-up (median, 14.1 years), there were 384 cardiovascular disease events among 5865 participants with concurrent assessment of left ventricular mass, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, kidney function, and microalbuminuria. For every BP category above optimal (referent group), the presence of HMOD increased cardiovascular disease risk compared with its absence. The prevalence of HMOD varies across international BP guidelines based on their different thresholds for defining hypertension. The presence of HMOD confers incremental prognostic information regarding cardiovascular disease risk at every BP category.

Quantitative Analyses of the Left Ventricle Volume and Cardiac Function in Normal and Infarcted Yucatan Minipigs.

(1) Background: The accuracy of the left ventricular volume (LVV) and contractility measurements with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is decreased if the papillary muscles are abnormally enlarged, such as in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in human patients or in pig models of human diseases. The purpose of this work was to establish the best method of LVV quantification with CMRI in pigs. (2) Methods: The LVV in 29 Yucatan minipig hearts was measured using two different techniques: the “standard method”, which uses smooth contouring along the endocardial surface and adds the papillary volume to the ventricular cavity volume, and the “detailed method”, which traces the papillary muscles and trabeculations and adds them to the ventricular mass. (3) Results: Papillary muscles add 21% to the LV mass in normal and infarcted hearts of Yucatan minipigs. The inclusion or exclusion of these from the CMRI analysis significantly affected the study results. In the normal pig hearts, the biggest differences were found in measurements of the LVV, ejection fraction (EF), LV mass and indices derived from the LV mass (p < 0.001). The EF measurement in the normal pig heart was 11% higher with the detailed method, and 19% higher in the infarcted pig hearts (p < 0.0001). The detailed method of endocardium tracing with CMRI closely represented the LV mass measured ex vivo. (4) Conclusions: The detailed method, which accounts for the large volume of the papillary muscles in the pig heart, provides better accuracy and interobserver consistency in the assessment of LV mass and ejection fraction, and might therefore be preferable for these analyses.

AORTIC STIFFNESS AND LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS ASSESSED BY CARDIOVASCULAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN ADOLESCENTS WITH WHITE COAT HYPERTENSION, SPURIOUS HYPERTENSION AND TRUE HYPERTENSION

Objective: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for the noninvasive assessment of left ventricular mass (LVM) and it permits the evaluation of aortic stiffness (AS). Our aim was to assess LVM and AS in adolescents with suspected arterial hypertension (AH), who were divided into the following groups: white coat hypertension (WCHT), spurious hypertension (sHT) and true hypertension (tHT). Design and method: LVM, pulse wave velocity in the proximal (proxPWV) and whole thoracic aorta (thPWV) were assessed by CMR imaging in 72 patients with suspected AH (15 girls, mean age 16.4 ± 1.5years). Based on the results of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring AH or WCHT was diagnosed. AH group was further subdivided into sHT, defined as isolated systolic hypertension with normal central blood pressure (cBP), and tHT defined as elevated cBP. Results: WCHT was diagnosed in 42 and AH in 30 patients (12 sHT; 18 tHT). Comparison of WCHT with AH revealed significantly higher LVM index (LVMI, 63.8 ± 11.3 vs 72.6 ± 8.8 g/m2), LVMI z-score (0.4 ± 0.8 vs 1.0 ± 0.7), proxPWV (3.9 ± 0.8 vs 4.5 ± 1.4m/s), proxPWV z-score (0.3 ± 1.1 vs 1.0 ± 1.6) and thPWV (3.7 ± 0.7 vs 4.2 ± 0.8m/s) in AH group (p &lt; 0.05 for all comparisons). LVMI/LVMI z-scores were significantly higher in both sHT (72.8 ± 10.8 g/m2 / 0.96 ± 0.79) and tHT (72.5 ± 7.5 g/m2 / 0.99 ± 0.64) as compared to WCHT (63.6 ± 11.3 g/m2 / 0.34 ± 0.82). Patients with sHT also had significantly higher thPWV (4.4 ± 0.8m/s) compared to WCHT (3.7 ± 0.7m/s) and tHT (4.0 ± 0.8m/s). Conclusions: Both tHT and sHT are associated with greater LVM and AS than WCHT. This supports the argument that sHT is not a benign phenomenon.

Echocardiographic Left Ventricular Mass Assessment: Correlation between 2D-Derived Linear Dimensions and 3-Dimensional Automated, Machine Learning-Based Methods in Unselected Patients.

A recently developed algorithm for 3D analysis based on machine learning (ML) principles detects left ventricular (LV) mass without any human interaction. We retrospectively studied the correlation between 2D-derived linear dimensions using the ASE/EACVI-recommended formula and 3D automated, ML-based methods (Philips HeartModel) regarding LV mass quantification in unselected patients undergoing echocardiography. We included 130 patients (mean age 60 ± 18 years; 45% women). There was only discrete agreement between 2D and 3D measurements of LV mass (r = 0.662, r2 = 0.348, p < 0.001). The automated algorithm yielded an overestimation of LV mass compared to the linear method (Bland–Altman positive bias of 13.1 g with 95% limits of the agreement at 4.5 to 21.6 g, p = 0.003, ICC 0.78 (95%CI 0.68−8.4). There was a significant proportional bias (Beta −0.22, t = −2.9) p = 0.005, the variance of the difference varied across the range of LV mass. When the published cut-offs for LV mass abnormality were used, the observed proportion of overall agreement was 77% (kappa = 0.32, p < 0.001). In consecutive patients undergoing echocardiography for any indications, LV mass assessment by 3D analysis using a novel ML-based algorithm showed systematic differences and wide limits of agreements compared with quantification by ASE/EACVI- recommended formula when the current cut-offs and partition values were applied.

Effect of Regional Upper Septal Hypertrophy on Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Mass and Remodeling in Aortic Stenosis

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the reference method for evaluation of aortic stenosis (AS), and it is extensively used to quantitate left ventricular (LV) mass and volumes. Regional upper septal hypertrophy (USH) or septal bulge is a frequent finding in patients with AS and may lead to overestimation of LV mass when using linear measurements. The objective of this study was to compare estimates of LV mass obtained by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic LV dimensions measured at different levels of the LV cavity with those obtained by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). One hundred six patients (mean age, 63±15years; 68% men) with AS were included in this subanalysis of the PROGRESSA study. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements of LV dimensions were obtained at the basal level (BL; as recommended in guidelines), immediately below the septal bulge (BSB), and at a midventricular level (ML). Regional USH was defined as a basal interventricular septal thickness ≥ 13mm and >1.3 times the thickness of the septal wall at the ML. Agreement between transthoracic echocardiographic and CMR measures was evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis. The distribution of AS severity was mild in 23%, moderate in 57%, and severe in 20% of patients. Regional USH was present in 28 patients (26%). In the whole cohort, two-dimensional TTE overestimated LV mass (bias: BL,+60±31g; BSB,+59±32g; ML,+54±32g; P=.02). The biplane Simpson method slightly but significantly underestimated LV end-diastolic volume (bias -10±20mL, P<.001) compared with CMR. Overestimation of LV mass was more marked in patients with USH when measuring at the BL and was significantly lower when measuring LV dimensions at the ML (P<.025 vs BL and BSB). Two-dimensional TTE systematically overestimated LV mass and underestimated LV volumes compared with CMR. However, the bias between TTE and CMR was less important when measuring at the ML. Measurements at the BL as suggested in guidelines should be avoided, and measurements at the ML should be preferred in patients with AS, especially in those with USH.

Clinical Significance of Papillary Muscles on Left Ventricular Mass Quantification Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Reproducibility and Prognostic Value in Fabry Disease.

Accurate and reproducible assessment of left ventricular mass (LVM) is important in Fabry disease. However, it is unclear whether papillary muscles should be included in LVM assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and predictive value of LVM in patients with Fabry disease using different analysis approaches. A total of 92 patients (44±15 y, 61 women) with confirmed Fabry disease who had undergone cardiac MRI at a single tertiary referral hospital were included in this retrospective study. LVM was assessed at end-diastole using 2 analysis approaches, including and excluding papillary muscles. Adverse cardiac events were assessed as a composite end point, defined as ventricular tachycardia, bradycardia requiring device implantation, severe heart failure, and cardiac death. Statistical analysis included Cox proportional hazard models, Akaike information criterion, intraclass correlation coefficients, and Bland-Altman analysis. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, ejection fraction, and LVM all differed significantly between analysis approaches. LVM was significantly higher when papillary muscles were included versus excluded (157±71 vs. 141±62 g, P<0.001). Mean papillary mass was 16±11 g, accounting for 10%±3% of total LVM. LVM with pap illary muscles excluded had slightly better predictive value for the composite end point compared with LVM with papillary muscles included based on the model goodness-of-fit (Akaike information criterion 140 vs. 142). Interobserver agreement was slightly better for LVM with papillary muscles excluded compared with included (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.993 [95% confidence interval: 0.985, 0.996] vs. 0.989 [95% confidence interval: 0.975, 0.995]) with less bias and narrower limits of agreement. Inclusion or exclusion of papillary muscles has a significant effect on LVM quantified by cardiac MRI, and therefore, a standardized analysis approach should be used for follow-up. Exclusion of papillary muscles from LVM is a reasonable approach in patients with Fabry disease given slightly better predictive value and reproducibility.

Left Ventricular Mass Assessment by 1- and 2-Dimensional Echocardiographic Methods in Hemodialysis Patients: Changes in Left Ventricular Volume Using Echocardiography Before and After a Hemodialysis Session

Rationale & ObjectiveLeft ventricular (LV) mass (LVM) is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and commonly calculated using 1-dimensional (1D) echocardiographic methods. These methods are vulnerable to small measurement errors and LVM may wrongly change according to changes in LV volume (LVV). Less commonly used 2-dimensional (2D) methods can accommodate to the changes in LVV and may be a better alternative among patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) with large fluid fluctuations.Study DesignObservational study.Setting & ParticipantsPatients with end-stage kidney disease receiving HD.ExposureOne HD session.Analytical ApproachTransthoracic echocardiography was performed right before and after HD. LVM was calculated using 1D (Devereux, Penn, and Teichholz) and 2D methods (truncated ellipsoid and area-length).OutcomesSignificant differences in LVM after HD.ResultsWe compared dimensions, LVV and LVM, in 53 patients (mean age, 63 ± 15 years; 66% men). For each 1-L increase in ultrafiltration volume (UFV), LV internal diameter decreased 1.1 mm (95% CI, 0.5-1.7 mm; P = 0.001). Patients were divided into 2 groups by the median UFV of 1.6 L. Patients with UFV > 1.6 L had significant smaller LVV and LV internal diameter after HD. LVM calculated using 1D methods decreased according to changes in LVV. Conversely, LVM calculated using 2D methods was not significantly different after HD. No significant change in differences between diastolic − systolic myocardial thickness or LVM as assessed using 1D and 2D methods was observed before and after HD, indicating that LVM remained constant despite HD.LimitationsWe did not use contrast enhancement, 3-dimensional methods, or cardiac magnetic resonance.ConclusionsLVM calculated using 2D methods, truncated ellipsoid and area-length, is less affected by fluctuations in fluid and LVV, in contrast to 1D methods. Complementary LVM calculation using 2D methods is encouraged, especially in patients with large fluid fluctuations in which increased LVM using a 1D method has been detected.

Left ventricular mass estimation by real-time 3D echocardiography favourably competes with CMR in congenital left ventricular disease

Assessment of left ventricular mass (LVM) is important in the evaluation of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is the gold standard. Recent software allows LVM calculation by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). We investigated the impact of different software analysis tools on LVM determination by CMR or RT3DE in a cohort of patients with heterogeneous left ventricular (LV) disease. 37 subjects (17 patients, mean age 18.7 y; 20 controls, mean age 13.2 y) underwent CMR and RT3DE. CMR LVM and RT3DE calculations were done using two different LV-analysis software packages for each modality: CMR i) customized software “CMR HDZ”, CMR ii) “CMR ISP”; RT3DE i) “Toshiba”, RT3DE ii) “Tomtec”, 4D LV-Analysis Version 3.1 (built 3.1.0.258661). Intra- and interobserver variabilities were calculated. Only RT3DE-derived LVM showed significant software-dependent differences. RT3DE-derived LVM (both softwares) was significantly higher than CMR-derived LVM (both softwares). The two different methods and four evaluation software packages for LVM assessment were well correlated with each other. Intra- and interobserver variability of LVM as assessed by each single modality or software was low. Despite software dependency and overestimation of RT3DE-assessed LVM by 5 to 10%, RT3DE still competes with the gold standard, CMR, even in patients with various forms of LV disease. The use of optimized software, especially for RT3DE, should improve the accuracy of LVM assessment, overcoming LVM overestimation.

TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY VERSUS TRANSTHORACIC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY FOR ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS AND MASS INDEX

Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) and index (LVMI) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the standard method for assessment of LVM and LVMI. Despite the increased clinical use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) there is limited data

Treatment of Hypertension Induced Target Organ Damage in Children and Adolescents.

High blood pressure in children and adolescents may have an adverse impact on the heart, the vessels, the kidney, and the central nervous system causing early functional or structural changes. The most prevalent subclinical hypertensive target organ damage in children and adolescents is left ventricular hypertrophy, and echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular mass is suggested in all hypertensive children. There is evolving evidence that antihypertensive treatment in children and adolescents could lead to regression of target organ damage, emphasizing also the importance of adequate blood pressure control. Assessment of subclinical organ damage could guide clinical decisions from diagnosis with regard to intensity non-pharmacological treatment, time to wait for initiation of pharmacological treatment, and choice of drug. Longitudinal studies are needed to relate the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment and blood pressure targets in childhood with future cardiovascular or renal events. This review summarizes evidence on the associations of hypertension with target organ damage in children and adolescents and the role of antihypertensive therapy on the regression of target organ damage in the pediatric age group.

The influence of LV geometry on the occurrence of abnormal exercise tests in athletes

BackgroundPrevious studies revealed a high rate of abnormal exercise test (ET) results in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic athletes. The physiological background of this phenomenon is not well established. In particular, it is unclear whether sports-induced morphological cardiac adaptations are determinants of abnormal ET results. The main objective of this study was to investigate if healthy asymptomatic recreational and competitive athletes with abnormal ET results without obstructive CAD have a higher LV mass when compared with athletes with normal ET results.MethodsSeventy-three athletes with abnormal ET results without presence of obstructive CAD underwent echocardiographic assessment of LV mass, systolic and diastolic measurements. These data were compared with data from 73 athletes with normal ET results, matched for gender, age, body composition, sports characteristics and exercise capacity.ResultsNo significant increase in LV mass (161.9 ± 39 g vs. 166.9 ± 42.1 g, p = 0.461) was found between groups. Athletes with abnormal ET results had a significant thicker IVSd (9.7 ± 1.8 mm vs. 9.0 ± 1.7 mm, p = 0.014), higher IVSd/PWTd ratio (1.08 ± 0.20 vs. 1.00 ± 0.12, p = 0.011) and deceleration time (DT) was prolonged ((225.14 ± 55.08 vs. 199.96 ± 34.65, p = 0.003).ConclusionAthletes with abnormal ET result did not show a higher in LV mass when compared to athletes with a normal ET result. However, a pattern of asymmetric cardiac remodeling, together with altered diastolic function is present. Due to small differences, cardiac remodeling only plays a limited role in the occurrence of positive ET results in athletes.

Left Ventricular Mass Change After Anthracycline Chemotherapy.

Myocardial atrophy and left ventricular (LV) mass reductions are associated with fatigue and exercise intolerance. The relationships between the receipt of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (Anth-bC) and changes in LV mass and heart failure (HF) symptomatology are unknown, as is their relationship to LV ejection fraction (LVEF), a widely used measurement performed in surveillance strategies designed to avert symptomatic HF associated with cancer treatment. We performed blinded, serial assessments of body weight, LVEF and mass, LV-arterial coupling, aortic stiffness, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire measures before and 6 months after initiating Anth-bC (n=61) and non-Anth-bC (n=15), and in 24 cancer-free controls using paired t and χ2 tests and multivariable linear models. Participants averaged 51±12 years, and 70% were women. Cancer diagnoses included breast cancer (53%), hematologic malignancy (42%), and soft tissue sarcoma (5%). We observed a 5% decline in both LVEF (P<0.0001) and LV mass (P=0.03) in the setting of increased aortic stiffness and disrupted ventricular-arterial coupling in those receiving Anth-bC but not other groups (P=0.11-0.92). A worsening of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score in Anth-bC recipients was associated with myocardial mass declines (r=-0.27; P<0.01) but not with LVEF declines (r=0.11; P=0.45). Moreover, this finding was independent of LVEF changes and body weight. Early after Anth-bC, LV mass reductions associate with worsening HF symptomatology independent of LVEF. These data suggest an alternative mechanism whereby anthracyclines may contribute to HF symptomatology and raise the possibility that surveillance strategies during Anth-bC should also assess LV mass.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of myocardial mass and fibrosis in primary aldosteronism.

BackgroundPrimary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, presumably due to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and fibrosis. However, the degree of fibrosis has not been extensively studied. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) contrast enhancement and novel sensitive T1 mapping to estimate increased extracellular volume (ECV) are available to measure the extent of fibrosis.ObjectivesTo assess LV mass and fibrosis before and after treatment of PA using CMR with contrast enhancement and T1 mapping.MethodsFifteen patients with newly diagnosed PA (PA1) and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (HS) were studied by CMR with contrast enhancement. Repeated imaging with a new scanner with T1 mapping was performed in 14 of the PA1 and 20 of the HS median 18 months after specific PA treatment and in additional 16 newly diagnosed PA patients (PA2).ResultsPA1 had higher baseline LV mass index than HS (69 (53–91) vs 51 (40–72) g/m2; P < 0.001), which decreased significantly after treatment (58 (40–86) g/m2; P < 0.001 vs baseline), more with adrenalectomy (n = 8; −9 g/m2; P = 0.003) than with medical treatment (n = 6; −5 g/m2; P = 0.075). No baseline difference was found in contrast enhancement between PA1 and HS. T1 mapping showed no increase in ECV as a myocardial fibrosis marker in PA. Moreover, ECV was lower in the untreated PA2 than HS 10 min post-contrast, and in both PA groups compared with HS 20 min post-contrast.ConclusionSpecific treatment rapidly reduced LV mass in PA. Increased myocardial fibrosis was not found and may not represent a common clinical problem.