Pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy seen on transthoracic echo in patients with hypertensive cardiomyopathy when compared with idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Objective: to explore the pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy caused by hypertension and to compare it with idiopathic hypertrophiccardiomyopathy. methods: the retrospective study was conducted at the echocardiography lab of rashid hospital, dubai, from january 2009 to january 2010. cases of 11 patients with significant left ventricular hypertrophy (septum >15mm) due to underlying hypertension were analysed and compared with 11 cases of idiopathic hypertrophic cardiography (septum >15mm) to assess the two groups with similar baseline echocardiographic features. minitab software was used for statistical analysis. results: although the pattern of hypertrophy in hypertensive patients was more concentric (n=5; 45%), there was also asymmetrical septal hypertrophy in 4 (36%) cases, particularly the elderly with sigmoid shape septum. there was evidence of resting mid-cavity gradient due to reduced left ventricular end-systolic diametre in 4 (36%) cases. conclusion: although the equation between hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy is more concentric, but it can be associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and significant mid-cavity gradients similar to that seen in idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.