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Isolated left ventricular noncompaction in a 90-year-old man

Cihan Cevik1, Raymond F Stainback

  • 1Department of Adult Cardiology, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ccevik@sleh.com

Texas Heart Institute Journal
|June 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Isolated ventricular noncompaction, a rare heart condition, can occur in older adults. This case study shows a 90-year-old man with this cardiomyopathy successfully managed with medical treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Heart Failure Research

Background:

  • Isolated ventricular noncompaction (IVNC) is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by excessive trabeculation and deep intertrabecular recesses in the myocardium.
  • While increasingly diagnosed due to enhanced imaging, IVNC is exceptionally uncommon as a cause of heart failure in the nonagenarian population.

Observation:

  • A 90-year-old male presented with new-onset heart failure.
  • Transthoracic echocardiography revealed isolated left ventricular noncompaction, specifically affecting the apical and inferolateral segments with a spongy texture.

Findings:

  • The patient received medical management for his heart failure symptoms.
  • At a 3-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, indicating successful treatment and management of IVNC.

Implications:

  • This case highlights that IVNC, even in advanced age, can be managed effectively, allowing patients to maintain a good quality of life.
  • Increased awareness and improved diagnostic capabilities are crucial for identifying and treating IVNC across all age groups, potentially improving long-term patient outcomes.

Keywords:
Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis/epidemiology/therapydiagnosis, differentialechocardiographyheart ventricles/abnormalities/ultrasonographymyocardium/pathologyventricular dysfunction, left/complications/diagnosis/etiology/physiopathology/therapy/ultrasonography

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