[Echocardiographic follow-up in latent cardiomyopathy].

Follow-up studies of left ventricular dimensions and function in latent cardiomyopathy (LCM) (as defined by abnormal left ventricular function during exercise in otherwise "normal" heart) have not yet been published. 36 patients with normal left ventricular data at rest (echocardiography, left ventricular angiography, coronary angiography, pulmonary artery pressure), but at least one pathologic function parameter during exercise, were studied prospectively by clinical means and by one- and two-dimensional echocardiography (mean follow-up 3.3 +/- 1.3 years). No patients died. The mean clinical class remained unchanged. The echocardiogram did not reveal an increase of left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions in any case. On average the end-systolic diameter of the left ventricle and shortening fraction in the M-mode echocardiogram did not change either. However, in 5 out of 9 patients with left bundle branch block the 2D-echocardiogram showed the development of a slight reduction of left ventricular contractions (without an increase in the end-diastolic dimensions). This was not to be observed in any patient without LBBB. Another finding was that the dimensions of the left atrium of LCM patients exceeded those of a group of normal subjects (p less than 0.02) with a further increase in the course of the disease (p less than 0.001). Thus, regarding the follow-up of patients with LCM without LBBB, there is no indication of any increase in the size of the left ventricle or reduction of its contractions at rest (mean follow-up 3.3 years). However, our results seem to underline the suspicion of a deterioration in left ventricular function of patients with LBBB.