Echocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy

The existence of left ventricular hypertrophy is an independent prognostic factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Heterogenous factors lead to left myocardial hypertrophy. The most frequently factors are: arterial hypertension, valvular heart disease (aortic stenosis and insufficiency, mitral insufficiency), hypertrophic myocardiopathy, left myocardial hypertrophy after myocardial infarction... For making the diagnosis of left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy used electrocardiography ('voltage' and 'repolarization' criteria) and echocardiography. Echocardiography is the gold standard for diagnosis of left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy. Left ventricular mass was estimated by the modified formula using measurements obtained in accordance with the Penn convention: MLK = 1,04 (LDDd+PWDd+IVSDd)3- (LVDd)3 - 13,6 where LDDd is diastolic left ventricular internal dimension, IVSDd is diastolic ventricular septal thickness and PWDd is diastolic posterior left ventricular wall thickness in diastole. LV mass indexed by body surface area (g/m2). By Penn convention left ventricular hypertrophy criteria were ≥134 g/m2 for men and ≥110 g/m2 for women.