Morphometric and densitometric approach in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

The aim of this study was to apply an easy method for the quantitative evaluation of changes in myocardial fibrocell size (area, diameter, circular shape factor, nuclear area, DNA content), and in the fibrous-interstitial area in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by mean of a computerized image analysis. A Vidas image analyser was employed for the morphometric study. The following parameters were assessed: area, maximum and minimum diameters, circular shape factor of myocytes; percentage of fibrosis; DNA content (integrated optical density) nuclear area of myocytes. The morphometric results in HCM compared to the ones in normal hearts, indicate an increase in the myocyte area and the transverse diameters, especially in the septum and left ventricle, altogether illustrating the hypertrophic condition of the myocytes, and increased fibrotic area was found in the left ventricular wall and septum (22.6 +/- 2.1% and 15.9 +/- 2.9% respectively). Densitometric analysis showed a significant increase in all test samples then compared with controls. The increase in the two nuclear parameters (area and DNA) also suggests hyperplasia. It is concluded that the morphometric determination of the morphologic abnormalities occurring in HCM by a rapid and less laborious approach, is an extremely useful method to describe the characteristics of this pathologic condition.