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Association of electrocardiographic abnormalities with cardiac findings and neuromuscular disorders in left

Claudia Stöllberger1, Maria Winkler-Dworak, Gerhard Blazek

  • 12nd Medical Department, Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Wien, Austria. claudia.stoellberger@chello.at

Cardiology
|February 8, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities are common in left ventricular hypertrabeculation/non-compaction (LVHT), often indicating heart failure. These ECG changes occur regardless of neuromuscular disorders, necessitating neurological referral for all LVHT patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/non-compaction (LVHT) is a cardiac abnormality with prominent trabeculations and intertrabecular recesses.
  • LVHT is frequently associated with neuromuscular disorders (NMD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in patients with LVHT.
  • To determine the association of ECG abnormalities with clinical symptoms, cardiac structure and function, and the presence of NMD.

Main Methods:

  • Echocardiographic diagnosis of LVHT in 86 patients.
  • Baseline cardiologic and neurologic investigations were performed.
  • ECG analysis and correlation with clinical and echocardiographic findings.

Main Results:

  • Only 10% of patients had normal ECGs; frequent abnormalities included tall QRS complexes (43%), ST/T-wave abnormalities (37%), and left bundle branch block (20%).
  • ECG abnormalities correlated with heart failure symptoms, systolic dysfunction, and valvular issues.
  • Atrial fibrillation was linked to LVHT extension, but ECG patterns did not differ between patients with and without NMD.

Conclusions:

  • ECG abnormalities are highly prevalent in LVHT.
  • A normal ECG does not rule out LVHT, and no specific ECG pattern is typical.
  • ECG abnormalities are independent of NMD, supporting routine neurological referral for all LVHT patients.
Abstract

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