Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, room E 01.132, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands,
Neth Heart J. 2012 Oct;20(10):389-95. doi: 10.1007/s12471-012-0305-7.
Left ventricular (LV) trabeculation may be more pronounced in ethnic African than in Caucasian (European) athletes, leading to possible incorrect diagnosis of left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC). This study investigates ethnic differences in LV hypertrabeculation amongst elite athletes with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and electrocardiography (ECG).
38 elite male football (soccer) players (mean age 23.0, range 19-34 years, 28/38 European, 10/38 African) underwent CMR and ECG. Hypertrabeculation was assessed using the ratio of non-compacted to compacted myocardium (NC/C ratio) on long-axis and short-axis segments. ECGs were systematically rated.
No significant differences were seen in ventricular volumes, wall mass or E/A ratio, whereas biventricular ejection fraction (EF) was significantly lower in African athletes (European/African athletes LVEF 55/50 %, p = 0.02; RVEF 51/48 %, p = 0.05). Average NC/C ratio was greater in African athletes but only significantly at mid-ventricular level (European/African athletes: apical 0.91/1.00, p = 0.65; mid-ventricular 0.89/1.45, p < 0.05; basal 0.40/0.46, p = 0.67). ECG readings demonstrated no significant group differences, and no correlation between ECG anomalies and hypertrabeculation.
A greater degree of LV hypertrabeculation is seen in healthy African athletes, combined with biventricular EF reduction at rest. Recognition of this phenomenon is necessary to avoid misdiagnosis of LVNC.
左心室（LV）小梁化在非洲裔运动员中比在白种人（欧洲人）运动员中更为明显，这可能导致左心室致密化不全心肌病（LVNC）的误诊。本研究通过心脏磁共振（CMR）和心电图（ECG）研究了精英运动员中LV 小梁化的种族差异。
38 名男性精英足球（足球）运动员（平均年龄 23.0 岁，范围 19-34 岁，28/38 名欧洲人，10/38 名非洲人）接受了 CMR 和 ECG 检查。使用长轴和短轴节段的非致密心肌与致密心肌比值（NC/C 比值）评估小梁化。系统地评估了心电图。
心室容积、壁质量或 E/A 比值无显著差异，而双心室射血分数（EF）在非洲裔运动员中显著降低（欧洲/非洲裔运动员 LVEF 分别为 55%/50%，p=0.02；RVEF 分别为 51%/48%，p=0.05）。非洲裔运动员的平均 NC/C 比值较大，但仅在中心室水平显著（欧洲/非洲裔运动员：心尖部 0.91/1.00，p=0.65；中心室 0.89/1.45，p<0.05；基底段 0.40/0.46，p=0.67）。心电图读数显示组间无显著差异，心电图异常与小梁化之间无相关性。
健康的非洲裔运动员中 LV 小梁化程度更高，同时休息时双心室 EF 降低。认识到这种现象是避免 LVNC 误诊的必要条件。
