Left ventricular hypertrophy

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Heart-Healthy Living

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Left ventricular hypertrophy changes both the structure and function of the chamber:

  • The enlarged muscle loses elasticity and stiffens, preventing the chamber from filling properly and leading to increased pressure in the heart.
  • The enlarged muscle tissue compresses its own blood vessels (coronary arteries) and may restrict its own supply of blood.
  • The overworked muscle weakens.

Complications that can occur as a result of these problems include:

  • Inability of your heart to pump enough blood to your body (heart failure)
  • Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
  • Insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart (ischemic heart disease)
  • Interruption of blood supply to the heart (heart attack)
  • Sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness (sudden cardiac arrest)
References
  1. Douglas PS, et al. Definition and pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 28, 2012.
  2. Kaplan NM, et al. Clinical implications and treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension. http://www.uptodate.com/ index. Accessed May 28, 2012.
  3. Katholi RE, et al. Left ventricular hypertrophy: Major risk factor in patients with hypertension — Update and practical clinical applications. International Journal of Hypertension. 2011;495349:1.
  4. Lorell BH, et al. Left ventricular hypertrophy: Pathogenesis, detection, and prognosis. Circulation. 2000;102:470.
  5. Rawlins J, et al. Left ventricular hypertrophy in athletes. European Journal of Echocardiography. 2009;10:350.
  6. Artham SM, et al. Clinical impact of left ventricular hypertrophy and implications for regression. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 2009;52:153.
  7. What is high blood pressure? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp/. Accessed May 30, 2012.
  8. Aortic valve stenosis (AS) and aortic insufficiency (AI). American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/Aortic-Valve-Stenosis-AVS_UCM_307020_Article.jsp. Accessed May 30, 2012.
  9. Gersh BJ, et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2011;124:e783.
DS00680 July 18, 2012

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