[Clinical characterizations of patients with isolated left ventricular noncompaction diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characterizations in patients with isolated left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

METHODS

All patients were examined by MRI. The LV was divided into 9 segments for localizing non compacted segments. A new value, C/VS, was introduced to assess the degree of non compacted segments.

RESULTS

A total of 31 patients was diagnosed as LVNC (23 males; 39.9 +/- 15.7 years). Palpitations presented in 74% of patients, abnormal EKG found in 93.5% of patients, 33.3% segments were affected and most commonly in the mid-ventricular and apical segments, 84% of patients had > or = 2 affected segments. Right ventricle was affected in 2 patients. Left ventricular thrombi were detected in 3 patients. LVEF was 37.2% +/- 16.5% (14% - 70%), N/C was 3.6 +/- 1.4 (2.2 - 9.2) and C/VS was 0.43 +/- 0.11 (0.27 - 0.69).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac MRI allows accurate LVNC assessment.