Left Ventricular Noncompaction

Left ventricular noncompaction is an incidental echocardiographic finding in some while others may be symptomatic. In left ventricular noncompaction, there is a thin subepicardial compact layer and a thick subendocardial layer which is non-compact and has prominent trabeculations and recesses between the trabeculae. Blood flow into and out of these recesses can provide a spectacular view on colour Doppler echocardiography, almost looking like flames of fire near the apex, in the apical four chamber view. When non-compaction is associated with left ventricular dysfunction it is called left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy. Some of them may develop heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events and even sudden cardiac death rarely. Familial occurrence in up to 30% of first degree relatives have been noted [1].

Reference

1. Thilde O. Kock, Marie F. Børresen, Anne-Sophie Sillesen, Ruth O.B. Vøgg, Jakob B. Norsk, Maria M. Pærregaard, Niels G. Vejlstrup, Alex H. Christensen, Kasper K. Iversen, Henning Bundgaard, and Anna Axelsson Raja. Left Ventricular Noncompaction in Childhood: Echocardiographic Follow-Up and Prevalence in First-Degree Relatives. JACC Adv. 2024 Mar, 3 (3) 100829.