In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy myocardial fibrosis is associated with both left ventricular and left atrial dysfunction

C. Prinz; F. Van Buuren; N. Bogunovic; T. Bitter; L. Faber; D. Horstkotte

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Document Details :

Title: In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy myocardial fibrosis is associated with both left ventricular and left atrial dysfunction
Author(s): C. Prinz , F. Van Buuren , N. Bogunovic , T. Bitter , L. Faber , D. Horstkotte
Journal: Acta Cardiologica
Volume: 67 Issue: 2 Date: 2012
Pages: 187-193
DOI: 10.2143/AC.67.2.2154209

Abstract :
Aims: The aim of this study was to assess LA function by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography and its relation with myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Methods: We enrolled 30 consecutive HCM-patients in our study (20 males; age: 49.7 ± 10.4 years, NYHA-class: 1.9 ± 0.7). Echocardiography was performed with assessment of global longitudinal LV strain (Є) and LA Є and strain-rate parameters (systolic, early diastolic, and late diastolic during atrial contraction). Each patient received delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) to check for myocardial fibrosis. We divided the patients into two groups. Patients of group 1 had no fibrosis, group 2 demonstrated moderate or severe fibrosis in ≥ 2 segments using a 17 segment-model of the LV.
Results: Moderate and severe fibrosis was observed in 20 patients (group 2: 66.7%). Global longitudinal LV Є (–13.0 ± 2.4 vs –20.6 ± 3.2%, P < 0.001) and peak LA Є (–0.2 ± 3.9 vs 17.9 ± 6.7%, P < 0.001) were reduced in group 2 in comparison with patients without myocardial fibrosis. In all patients peak LA Є correlated with global longitudinal LV Є (r = –0.78, P < 0.001). Patients with considerable myocardial fibrosis (group 2) had a higher indexed left atrial volume (35.7 ± 12.8 ml/m² vs 24.1 ± 8.6 ml/m², P = 0.016). New York Heart Association class (NYHA) was higher in patients with severe myocardial fibrosis(2.2 ± 0.7 vs 1.3 ± 0.5) and correlated with peak LA (r = –0.5, P = 0.008) and global LV Є (r = 0.5, P = 0.005).
Conclusions: Occurrence of myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with left atrial and ventricular dysfunction as well as with the severity of heart failure symptoms.