Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) can occur as a result of increase in the left ventricular (LV) wall thickness or increase in the LV cavity size, thus leading to increase in the LV mass. Strength training and aerobic exercise lead to physiological LVH, whereas conditions such as hypertension and aortic stenosis (AS) cause pathological LVH. It is one aspect of ventricular remodeling. LVH can also occur because of some primary myocardial diseases as well as due to certain infiltrative disorders. LVH is not a disease in itself, but a manifestation of some other disease. LVH is a marker of adverse cardiovascular health and remodeling and is associated with a high risk of adverse cardiac outcomes. Besides this, LVH itself can lead to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Hence, a thorough assessment of LVH is important for proper management of the underlying condition. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging are the two most important imaging modalities used for the assessment of LVH. This review describes various echocardiography techniques for LVH assessment as well as echocardiographic recognition of the underlying etiological condition.