Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Morphological and Functional Assessment of the Right Ventricle Using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Left Ventricular False Tendons are Associated With Left Ventricular Dilation and Impaired Systolic and Diastolic
Michael E Hall1, Joseph A Halinski2, Thomas N Skelton3
1Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi; Mississippi Center for Heart Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi.
Insights
Left ventricular false tendons (LVFTs) may be linked to heart structure and function changes, not just benign variants. Specific locations, like basal and middle LVFTs, are associated with reduced systolic function and dilation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Structure and Function
Background:
- Left ventricular false tendons (LVFTs) are common intracardiac structures.
- Traditionally considered benign, LVFTs have been anecdotally linked to arrhythmias and ventricular remodeling.
- The association between LVFTs and left ventricular (LV) structural and functional changes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between LVFTs and LV structural and functional changes using echocardiography.
- To compare echocardiographic parameters in patients with and without LVFTs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of echocardiographic and clinical data from 126 patients with LVFTs and 85 age-matched controls.
- Comparison of demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic parameters between the two groups.
- Statistical analysis to identify associations between LVFTs and LV abnormalities, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- Patients with LVFTs exhibited higher prevalence of heart failure, LV dilation, moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation, and diastolic dysfunction compared to controls.
- LVFTs were associated with a significant reduction in LV systolic function.
- Basal and middle LVFT locations were independently associated with reduced LV systolic function and LV dilation, respectively.
Conclusions:
- LVFTs may not be benign findings and are associated with significant LV structural and functional abnormalities.
- Basal and middle LVFTs appear to have more detrimental effects on LV function and structure.
- Further prospective research is warranted to elucidate the pathophysiological role of LVFTs in LV dysfunction.
Background:
Left ventricular false tendons (LVFTs) are chord-like structures that traverse the LV cavity and are generally considered to be benign. However, they have been associated with arrhythmias, LV hypertrophy and LV dilation in some small studies. We hypothesize that LVFTs are associated with LV structural and functional changes assessed by echocardiography.
Methods:
We retrospectively evaluated echocardiographic and clinical parameters of 126 patients identified as having LVFTs within the past 2 years and compared them to 85 age-matched controls without LVFTs.
Results:
There were no significant differences in age (52 ± 18 versus 54 ± 18 years, P = 0.37), sex (55% versus 59% men, P = 0.49), race (36% versus 23% white, P = 0.07), systolic blood pressure (131 ± 22 versus 132 ± 23mmHg, P = 0.76) or body mass index (BMI, 31 ± 8 versus 29 ± 10kg/m2, P = 0.07) between controls and patients with LVFTs, respectively. Patients with LVFTs had more prevalent heart failure (43% versus 21%, P = 0.001). Patients with LVFTs had more LV dilation, were 2.5 times more likely to have moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation, had more severe diastolic dysfunction and reduced LV systolic function (18% lower) compared with controls (all P < 0.05). After adjustment for covariates, basal and middle LVFT locations were associated with reduced LV systolic function (P < 0.01), and middle LVFTs were associated with LV dilation (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that LVFTs may not be benign variants, and basal and middle LVFTs may have more deleterious effects. Further prospective studies should be performed to determine their pathophysiological significance and whether they play a causal role in LV dysfunction.
More Related Videos
07:38Comprehensive Echocardiographic Assessment of Right Ventricle Function in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: January 20, 2023
06:47A Pulmonary Trunk Banding Model of Pressure Overload Induced Right Ventricular Hypertrophy and Failure
Published on: November 29, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
01:20Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction
01:22Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
01:27Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction
01:22Aortic Regurgitation II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
01:30Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy