Left ventricular hypertrophy

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Left ventricular hypertrophy is enlargement (hypertrophy) of the muscle tissue that makes up the wall of your heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle).

Left ventricular hypertrophy develops in response to some factor, such as high blood pressure, that requires the left ventricle to work harder. As the workload increases, the walls of the chamber grow thicker, lose elasticity and eventually may fail to pump with as much force as a healthy heart.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is more common in people who have high blood pressure or other heart problems.

References
  1. Kaplan NM, et al. Clinical implications and treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  2. Maron BJ. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In: Libby P, et al., eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50068-6--cesec3&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50068-6--cesec4&uniq=181218300&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&sid=946756953. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  3. Atrial and ventricular enlargement. In: Goldberger Ary L. Clinical Electrocardiography: A Simplified Approach. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/181218300-7/0/1394/36.html?tocnode=51851133&fromURL=36.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-04038-1..50007-X--cesec4_66. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  4. Goldberger AL. Electrocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  5. Murashima M, et al. Hypertension. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00005-3--s0325&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00005-3--s0330&uniq=181218300&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&sid=946716787#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00005-3--sc0070%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-6642-2. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  6. Domino FJ. Overview of hypertension in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  7. Aortic valve stenosis (AS) and aortic insufficiency (AI). American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1659. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  8. Cannon CP, et al. Approach to the patient with chest pain. In: Libby P, et al., eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50052-2&uniq=159657875&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&sid=887271424. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  9. Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 16, 2010.
DS00680 May 1, 2010

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