LVH

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) refers to the thickening of the walls of the left ventricle of the heart. This condition most commonly results from long-standing conditions that increase the workload of the heart, such as hypertension, aortic stenosis, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and kidney disease. In response to the increased demand, the heart remodels itself by thickening its muscle walls in what is known as concentric hypertrophy.

While these conditions are primary causes of LVH, there are also rare diseases like amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, or hemochromatosis that can lead to infiltrative cardiomyopathies, characterized by abnormal substances infiltrating the heart muscle and causing thickening of the walls. In contrast, athletes may have physiological hypertrophy where the chamber size of the heart increases to accommodate the higher volume of blood during exercise-induced demands, known as eccentric hypertrophy.

Certain heart conditions like severe aortic regurgitation can cause abnormal forms of eccentric hypertrophy. In this condition, the aortic valve leaks significantly, leading to an increase in blood volume that the heart must pump. As a result, the heart undergoes eccentric remodeling to adjust to the larger volume of blood flow. LVH can have significant clinical implications and may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, emphasizing the importance of diagnosing and managing this condition promptly.