Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a genetic cardiomyopathy often familial and autosomal dominant. It is characterized by morphological abnormalities affecting the left ventricular myocardium with prominent trabeculations of the inner surface of the ventricle, often extending deep into the ventricular wall. There are no pathognomonic histological findings with normal myocytes being interspersed with areas of fibrosis. Both familial and sporadic forms of non-compaction have been described, the prevalence being estimated to be between 0.01% and 0.27%.1 The diagnosis of LVNC calls for multimodal imaging. Echocardiography, being the most widely available cardiac imaging modality, may raise the initial suspicion of LVNC and can also provide physiological data. See Table 1. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) offers detailed visualization of the extent of non-compaction and supplemental morphological information.4 It should be noted that the current criteria for this condition may result in over diagnosis.
Publication information
Guha K, Treibel TA, Roussin I, Prasad SK, Duncan AM, Brookes C, McDonagh TA, Sharma R. Treatment of left ventricular non-compaction with cardiac resynchronization therapy. QJM. 2013 Jun;106(6):575-9.