Refined 4-group classification of left ventricular hypertrophy based on ventricular concentricity and volume dilatation outlines distinct noninvasive hemodynamic profiles in a large contemporary echocardiographic population

Clinical Value of Complex Echocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Classification Based on Concentricity, Mass, and Volume Quantification

Echocardiography is the most validated, non-invasive and used approach to assess left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Alternative methods, specifically magnetic resonance imaging, provide high cost and practical challenges in large scale clinical application. To include a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions, LVH should be considered in conjunction with the LV remodeling assessment. The universally known 2-group classification of LVH only considers the estimation of LV mass and relative wall thickness (RWT) to be classifying variables. However, knowledge of the 2-group patterns provides particularly limited incremental prognostic information beyond LVH. Conversely, LV enlargement conveys independent prognostic utility beyond LV mass for incident heart failure. Therefore, a 4-group LVH subdivision based on LV mass, LV volume, and RWT has been recently suggested. This novel LVH classification is characterized by distinct differences in cardiac function, allowing clinicians to distinguish between different LV hemodynamic stress adaptations in various cardiovascular diseases. The new 4-group LVH classification has the advantage of optimizing the LVH diagnostic approach and the potential to improve the identification of maladaptive responses that warrant targeted therapy. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on clinical value of this refinement of the LVH classification, emphasizing the role of echocardiography in applying contemporary proposed indexation methods and partition values.

Dilated hypertrophy: a distinct pattern of cardiac remodeling in preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Young adults born preterm have remodeled hearts, i.e., altered cardiac shape and size with impaired cardiac function. At present, the natural history and pattern of prematurity related cardiac remodeling are not clearly established. The aim of this study was to compare the left ventricle (LV) geometry and function of preterm infants at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) with gestation matched newborn infants.

METHODS

LV end diastolic volume index (LV EDVI), LV mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), and sphericity index (SI) were prospectively obtained with echocardiography. LV geometry was classified according to the Gaasch method. LV function was assessed by determining ejection fraction (EF), longitudinal strain (LS), mitral annulus systolic motion (s'), and estimated LV filling pressure (E/e').

RESULTS

Eighty-three preterm infants between 23 and 29 weeks gestation, and 40 infants of 36 weeks gestation at birth were analysed. LV EDVI, LVMI, SI, LS, s', and E/e' were higher in preterm group while RWT and EF were comparable between groups. LV showed normal geometry in 55.4%, physiological enlargement in 23% and dilated hypertrophy in 21.6% preterm infants.

CONCLUSION

At 36 week, preterm infants have significantly dilated, hypertrophied, and more spherical LV with impaired diastolic function compared with PMA matched newborn infants.

New classification of geometric patterns considering left ventricular volume in patients with chronic aortic valve regurgitation: Prevalence and association with adverse cardiovascular outcomes

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling due to aortic regurgitation (AR) often leads to maladaptive responses. We assessed the prevalence and clinical implications of LV remodeling considering LV volume, mass, and relative wall thickness at the time of AR diagnosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between 2008 and 2017, 370 consecutive patients (mean age 67.3 ± 16.1 years, 56.5% males), with moderate or severe AR, were retrospectively analyzed. LV geometric patterns and clinical outcomes (cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, or aortic valve replacement) were evaluated. LV dilatation (LV end-diastolic volume >75 mL/m² ) was present in 228 patients (61.6%). Applying the new LV remodeling classification system, 40 (10.8%) patients had normal geometry, 14 (3.8%) concentric remodeling, 43 (11.6%) concentric hypertrophy (LVH), 45 (12.2%) indeterminate LVH, 38 (10.3%) mixed LVH, 93 (25.1%) dilated LVH, 54 (14.6%) eccentric LVH, and 43 (11.6%) eccentric remodeling. During a median follow-up of 3.48 years (25th-75th percentile 0.91-5.57), 97 (26.2%) had the combined endpoint. LV dilation (P < 0.001), LVH (P < 0.001), and LV remodeling patterns were significantly associated with the combined endpoint. After multivariable adjustment for age, EF, aortic stenosis, CAD history, and moderate mitral regurgitation, dilated LVH (HR 7.61, IC 95% 1.82-31.80; P = 0.005) and eccentric LVH (HR 7.91, IC 95% 1.82-34.38; P = 0.006) were associated with adverse outcome compared to eccentric remodeling, that showed the best event-free survival rate.

CONCLUSIONS

In a contemporary cohort of patients with AR, applying the new LV remodeling classification system, only a minority had normal geometry. Dilated LVH and eccentric LVH showed distinct outcome penalty after adjustment for confounders.