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Review

Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Spectrum in Adults and Children: From a Morphological Trait to a Structural Muscular Disease

by
Flavia Fusco
1,*,
Nunzia Borrelli
1,
Rosaria Barracano
1,
Giovanni Domenico Ciriello
1,
Federica Verrillo
2,
Giancarlo Scognamiglio
1 and
Berardo Sarubbi
1
1
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Unit, AO dei Colli—Monaldi Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
2
Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Monaldi Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cardiogenetics 2022, 12(2), 170-184; https://doi.org/10.3390/cardiogenetics12020016
Submission received: 20 December 2021 / Revised: 11 March 2022 / Accepted: 28 March 2022 / Published: 1 April 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cardiogenetics: Feature Papers 2021)
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Abstract

:
Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is an extremely heterogeneous disorder with a highly variable clinical presentation, morphologic appearance at imaging testing, and prognosis. It is still unclear whether LVNC should be classified as a separate cardiomyopathy or if it is a mere morphological trait shared by many phenotypically distinct cardiomyopathies. Moreover, the hypertrabeculated phenotype may be reversible in some cases, possibly reflecting the left ventricular physiological response of the cardiac muscle to chronic overload. The current diagnostic criteria have several limitations, leaving many patients in a grey area. Here, we review the available literature on LVNC in order to provide an overview of the current knowledge on this complex disorder.

1. Introduction

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a structural anomaly of the left ventricle, characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in continuity with the ventricular cavity. LVNC morphology may be found in isolation in functionally normal hearts, or in the context of ventricular dilation and dysfunction. LVNC may also overlap with other cardiomyopathies phenotypes. Over the last 20 years, technological advances and improved imaging definition have allowed the recognition of trabeculations in an increasing number of patients, and several echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-based diagnostic criteria have been proposed. However, whether LVNC should be considered a distinct cardiomyopathy or simply a morphological trait shared by other cardiomyopathies is still controversial.

Search Strategy and Selection Criteria

The PubMed database was systematically searched for published articles in English until November 2021, entering specific keywords in relation to the issues of interest for the purpose of this review. We excluded outdated textbook chapters. Recommendations from ESC guidelines and consensus documents related to the topic were reviewed for inclusion in the present paper.

2. Morphological Features and Pathogenesis

Trabeculations are generally located mainly at the apex, which may have a spongy aspect in extreme cases. The anatomical features of explanted hearts from patients with LVNC are a luminal meshwork of thick endocardial bands, filaments and trabeculations with deep recesses into the LV cavity, forming a discrete trabecular inner layer with a thin, external, compacted layer [1]. The histological findings of LVNC are variably reported as being normal or as showing subendocardial or myocardial fibrosis, myocardial disorganization, hypertrophy, myocardial degeneration, intramural thrombi, myocardium scars, and signs of inflammation [2,3]. In addition, nuclear imaging techniques have shown reduced cardiac perfusion in patients with LVNC in both adults [4] and children [3], suggesting that microcirculatory dysfunction may be part of the disorder. Despite a recent widespread interest in LVNC, the physiopathological mechanisms behind this complex disease are still largely unknown. The most accredited theory of the congenital origin of LVNC derives from the observation of marked trabeculations during the early embryological evolution of the heart. At this stage, in the absence of a discrete coronary circulation, trabeculations guarantee myocardial perfusion [5]. Between 5 and 8 weeks of age, after the development of coronary arteries, a progressive process of ventricular compaction occurs, starting from the base and moving towards the apex. Therefore, LVNC could be the result of an arrest of the normal ventricular development during foetal life. The constant involvement of the apical region [6] and the frequent association with congenital heart disease seem to confirm this hypothesis. However, recent findings of reversible hypertrabeculation in healthy individuals [7,8] support the hypothesis that LVNC may be an acquired trait in response to increased ventricular loading conditions.

3. Etiology: A Genetic Disease of the Cardiac Muscle

LVNC exists as both a sporadic and familial disease. The familial form has been reported in 18–29% [2,9] of adults with LVNC, and in up to 44% [3] of paediatric cases. The familial form is a genetically heterogeneous disorder with several causative mutations in the genes encoding for sarcomeric (ACTC1, MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2, and TPM1), mitochondrial, desmosomal (DSP and PKP2), cytoskeletal, z-disk (LDB3), nuclear envelope (LMNA) [10], and ion channel proteins [11]. Mutations in the NOTCH signalling pathway, which is also involved in congenital heart diseases, have also been advocated. A significant number of mutations are in common with dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy [12]. The inheritance pattern is mainly autosomic dominant or X-linked, but autosomic recessive and matrilineal transmission have also been described. Mutation in the mitochondrial protein tafazzin, which is involved in ATP production and utilization, is causative of the X-linked Barth Syndrome, characterized by a form of skeletal myopathy which is frequently associated with cardiomyopathy, typically LVNC, presenting in the first months of life with poor sucking, growth failure, tachypnea, and marked ventricular dilatation [13]. LVNC has also been described in genetic neuromuscular disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and metabolic disorders, such as Danon Syndrome and Anderson–Fabry disease [14], as well as in chromosome anomalies such as trisomies 18 and 13, NSD1 mutation (Sotos syndrome), and PMP22 duplication (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A) [15]. In the present state, no specific guidelines for genetic tests in isolated LVNC are available. However, according to the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) Consensus Statement on genetic testing for the cardiomyopathies, mutation-specific genetic testing is recommended for family members following the identification of the LVNC mutation in an index case [16].

4. LVNC as a Spectrum: The Issue of the Reversible Hypertrabeculated Phenotype

In the last 10 years, increasing cases of marked trabeculated LV have been reported in conditions of increased afterload. Gati et al. demonstrated the higher prevalence of LV trabeculation among athletes, with 8.1% of athletes fulfilling the conventional criteria for LVNC [17]. More recently, increased trabeculations, which are most pronounced at the peak-training period compared to detraining period, were described in professional basketball players [8], suggesting that trabeculations may be part of the physiological changes of the athlete’s heart. Increased trabeculations were also reported in pregnancy. Gati et al. followed 102 women during pregnancy [7]: 26 women (25.4%) showed increased trabeculations, and eight women developed sufficient trabeculations to fulfill LVNC echo criteria; in 73% of the women, the complete regression of trabeculations occurred during the post-partum period [7]. Acquired LV hypertrabeculation may also be found during follow-up in patients with congenital heart disease in response to increased ventricular loading, as described below. The observation of the acquired and, in some cases, partially reversible non-compaction phenotype in athletes, pregnant women, and sickle cell anemia [18] and chronic renal failure [19] supported the hypothesis that trabeculae may be a physiological response to ventricular overload, giving rise to an animated debate on whether the presence of this morphological trait with no features of systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction should be regarded as an early form of cardiomyopathy. In this context, a large prospective study by Zemrak et al. investigated 2742 subjects without known cardiovascular disease with CMR, reporting no relevant changes in LV function after 10 years follow-up in those fulfilling the CMR criteria for LVNC at the baseline [20], further corroborated the theory of that hypertrabeculated LV should not be considered, in itself, a muscle disease. Moreover, the presence of a LVNC morphology in the healthy population, with the potential for regression, supports the hypothesis that LVNC should actually be deemed a wide morpho-functional spectrum from a purely morphological characteristic with a benign course to a structural muscular disease with a poor prognosis. Therefore, the main issue remains where the cut-off between normality and disease should be placed (Figure 1).

5. LVNC Classification

A cardiomyopathy is defined as a primary or idiopathic heart muscle disease. A position statement from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on myocardial and pericardial diseases listed LVNC among unclassified cardiomyopathies, arguing that it is still unclear whether LVNC exists as a separate cardiomyopathy, or if it is a mere morphological trait shared by many phenotypically distinct cardiomyopathies [21]. Conversely, the American Heart Association recognized LVNC as a primary, genetic cardiomyopathy [22]. An alternative nosology proposed by Arbustini et al. [23] aimed to classify any cardiomyopathy phenotypes by addressing five main features, including morphofunctional characteristics (M), organ involvement (O), a genetic pattern (G), etiological annotation (E), and functional status (S) (AHA/ACA stage or NYHA class). The MOGE(S) classification allows us to distinguish LVNC with LV dilation and dysfunction (MLVNC + D) or with LV hypertrophy (MLVNC + H) from a pure LVNC trait with normal ventricular function (MLVNC).

6. Epidemiology

LVNC has been considered a rare condition in the past, but its diffusion was probably underestimated. In the last two decades, LVNC diagnosis has shown an increasing trend, likely due to more awareness of the disorder along with improved imaging technologies. However, there is still a lack of a universally accepted cut-off for pathological trabeculations for the diagnosis of LVNC. Therefore, the real prevalence of LVNC remains difficult to define. The finding of isolated LVNC in an adult echo lab has been reported to be between 0.14% [24] and 0.24% [25]. The prevalence rises to 2.7% among adult patients with heart failure [26]. LVNC is diagnosed in 1.27% of children referred for echocardiography [27], with LVNC accounting for 9.2–9.5% of cardiomyopathies in the paediatric population [28,29].

7. LVNC and Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are frequently associated with LVNC, in keeping with the congenital theory of non-compaction (Figure 2 and Figure 3). This association has been reported in 12% of cases among adults. Trabeculations need to be carefully distinguished from sinusoids, which are also frequent in congenital heart disease, and result from the continuity between a ventricular cavity and coronary capillaries. In the CHD spectrum, a ventricular septal defect is the most common association (up to 50%) [30], followed by Ebstein’s anomaly (15%), aortic coarctation (3%) [31] and Tetralogy of Fallot (2%) [32], and, more rarely, a double outlet right ventricle [33]. Moreover, LVNC has been described in around a third of patients with a left-ventricle type univentricular heart [34,35], and may likely influence the outcome being associated with impaired LV function [33]. LVNC in adult CHD patients may be present from childhood, or may become more evident during follow-up, as a result of LV overload. In children, the occurrence of LVNC with congenital defects has been reported in between 27% [36] and 62% [28] of cases. Ventricular septal defects and left and right outflow obstructive lesions are the most frequent defects found in childhood in association with LVNC [18]. In a recent CMR-based study, LVNC was demonstrated in 37% of patients with univentricular heart disease and left ventricular morphology, and was associated with a significantly reduced ejection fraction compared to those with normal ventricular morphology [34]. LVNC seems to aggravate the prognosis of congenital heart defects. Ramachandran et al. studied the impact of concomitant LVNC on perioperative outcomes in children undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in terms of death, cardiac arrest, or the need for ECMO or transplantation, and demonstrated a significantly longer length of hospitalization and a higher incidence of complications in the LVNC-CHD group compared to patients with no myocardial abnormalities [37].

8. Clinical Presentation and Instrumental Findings at Diagnosis

LVNC is characterized by an extremely variable clinical presentation and a wide range of possible morphological expressions. The challenging diagnostic pathway accounts for a mean diagnostic delay of 6.43 ± 3 years, as reported by the French LVNC registry, with 32% of cases being diagnosed after 5 years or more [38]. The reported mean age at diagnosis varies from 37 ± 17 [39] to 45 ± 17 [40], and only in a quarter of cases does the first presentation occur in patients aged >60 years [35]. From the published cases, most patients were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis; however, many studies were likely biased from the inclusion mainly of those with advanced disease. Heart failure was the first presentation in up to 62% [16] of cases, and in 98% of the black population [41]. The initial NYHA class III-IV was reported in up to 50% of patients, and asymptomatic patients are more likely younger and with better systolic function [42]. Other reported findings which may raise the suspicion of LVNC before—and triggering—additional investigations are rhythm disorder, the screening of familiars, and embolic events [40]. ECG may reveal non-specific anomalies in 91% of patients, including left bundle branch block, poor R wave progression, ST-segment change, pathological Q waves, and T wave inversion. Moreover, a non-negligible proportion of patients may present with atrial fibrillation [40]. LVNC is also associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White [3,43].
On the basis of echocardiographic findings, different LVNC phenotypes have been described: isolated hypertrabeculations, dilated LVNC, hypertrophic LVNC, restrictive LVNC, and LVNC associated with congenital heart disease. Isolated right ventricular non-compaction [44,45,46], and biventricular non-compaction [47] have rarely been reported and diagnosed using the criteria [44]. Biventricular involvement may be associated with CHD [48], and has been described to lead to worse outcomes [49]. A genetic variant of MYH7 has been reported in patients with biventricular disease presenting with restrictive physiology [50] or a dilated phenotype and severe systolic dysfunction [51], requiring early transplantation. Dilated LV and impaired systolic function were reported in most patients at the time of LVNC diagnosis [41,52]. The mean initial ejection fraction(EF) found by different authors is between 41% [42,52] and 46% [41]. Improved diagnostic pathways and a greater awareness of the disorder are likely responsible for the improved mean EF at diagnosis in the latest series compared with initial reports by Oechslin et al. [2]. An advanced diastolic dysfunction demonstrated by an LV-restrictive filling pattern on echo has been reported in up to 50% [41] of cases at diagnosis. The paediatric form of LVNC is diagnosed at a median of 5 years of age [12]. Among children, there is high prevalence of neuromuscular disorders, including Becker’s muscular dystrophy and Friedreich’s ataxia [53]; therefore, a complete neurological assessment is reasonable at the time of diagnosis. Pignatelli et al. reported a higher proportion of symptomatic patients among children at the first presentation of LVNC compared to the adult population [28]. In various publications, an initial presentation with heart failure was reported between 20% [12] and 83% [29]. Other reasons for an initial consultation were arrhythmias in 17%, the evaluation of murmurs in 19%, an abnormal ECG in 10%, complaints of chest pain in 9%, family screening in 14%, and cardiomegaly noted on chest radiography in 7% of patients [54]. Echocardiography showed dilated LV in 93% [29] and systolic dysfunction in up to 88% [28] of children at diagnosis, while impaired diastolic function was present in only 10% of paediatric cases [12] (Figure 4).

9. Diagnosis

9.1. LVNC Diagnostic Criteria

Numerous sets of LVNC diagnostic criteria have been proposed over the years. Echocardiography, despite its possible pitfalls, is largely diffused with an excellent price–benefit relation, and remains the first-level imaging modality for the suspected or confirmed diagnosis of LVNC, and is also useful during follow-up. CMR is the second-line imaging modality for LVNC diagnosis, offering the high-resolution visualization of the trabecular portion of the LV and a better view of the apical region with a cine short-axis steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence. Therefore, CMR should be performed in all patients with suspected or confirmed LVNC diagnosis by echocardiography in order to assess the extension of the non-compaction, and to evaluate the ventricular volume and function during follow-up. A recent meta-analysis of 59 studies showed that, in CMR-based studies, the pooled LVNC prevalence was 12-fold higher compared to echo-based studies, reflecting higher sensitivity [55]. Furthermore, CMR provides data on the presence and the extension of fibrosis with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging. LGE uptake has been associated with systolic function and symptom severity [56], and is the best predictor of adverse events in patients with LVNC [57]. The main echo and CMR-based diagnostic criteria are summarized in Table 1. Novel echocardiographic techniques are currently emerging as important tools in addition to basal standard echocardiographic protocol in order to improve diagnostic sensibility, or to provide further functional data. In particular, contrast administration is helpful in the case of a difficult echo window, in order to enhance the endocardial border and trabeculations’ definition, to demonstrate perfused intertrabecular recesses, and to exclude thrombotic formations [58]. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a useful tool that offers high spatial resolution and allows accurate measurements of LV volumes before and after trabeculation exclusion to quantify the extension of non-compacted myocardium (Figure 4). Speckle tracking echocardiography allows the early recognition of subclinical LV impairment in cases with normal systolic function in both children [59] and adults [60] with LVNC. Furthermore, in patients with LVNC, reduced global radial, circumferential, and longitudinal strain values were related to a worse prognosis compared with patients with normal strain values [61]. Moreover, a peculiar regional deformation pattern with apical sparing in patients in LVNC may be potentially helpful in differential diagnosis with dilated cardiomyopathy [62,63]. Conversely, the apical–basal strain gradient seems to be more pronounced in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy compared with LVNC patients [64]. In addition, advanced speckle tracking analysis enables the evaluation of LV rotation movement. Basal and apical twist in the same direction leading to LV “solid body rotation” with a near-absent LV twist occurs in 53.3% [65] to 88% [66] of patients with LVNC, and may be an additional functional parameter to differentiate LVNC from dilated cardiomyopathy with good sensitivity and specificity (88% and 78%, respectively [65,66]). Abnormal LV rotation may contribute to LV dysfunction in LVNC patients, and supports the theory of congenital muscular disorder in non-compaction myocardium. A stepwise diagnostic pathway with the use of multimodality imaging is proposed in Figure 5.

9.2. Limitations of the Current Diagnostic Criteria

The current diagnostic criteria are derived from empiric observations in small groups of patients: the original studies included eight patients for the Chin criteria, seven patients for the Jenni and Peterson criteria, and 16 patients for the Jacquier criteria; none of them were systematically validated in a large cohort against a control group. Kohli et al. demonstrated the poor correlation among different sets of echocardiographic criteria, with only 30% of patients fulfilling all of them. Moreover, 8% of the healthy controls and 23% of the patients with heart failure also met at least one of the three sets of criteria to diagnose LVNC [5]. CMR criteria do not appear superior: a highly variable disease prevalence was found using different diagnostic criteria ina cohort of 700 patients, and the diagnosis of LVNC—by any CMR criteria set—was not associated with adverse clinical events after nearly 7 years of observation [76]. Inter-observer reproducibility is another major concern: the interobserver disagreement ranges between 43 and 35% of cases [77]. The current diagnostic criteria appear too sensitive, especially for the Afro-American population [5,6,20]. However, the main limitation is that both CMR and echo criteria are based solely on morphological features. Zemrak et al., demonstrated an unexpectedly high percentage of subjects fulfilling CMR criteria in a healthy population, highlighting the importance of the consideration of the pre-test probability of LVNC along with the diagnostic criteria [20]. Multiparametric evaluation including ECG, a complete echocardiography protocol with the use of new echo techniques, a cardiopulmonary test, 24-h Holter monitoring, and CMR with a study of late gadolinium enhancement may improve the diagnostic specificity for LVNC.

10. Outcome

The current knowledge about the disease course is extremely limited, leading to severe difficulties in identifying patients who are at a higher risk of adverse events. Older studies reported a higher incidence of negative outcomes, reflecting the improved efficacy of medical therapy in the latest years. The typical complications in patients with LVNC are summarized by the classical triad of heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias and systemic embolic events. Admissions for heart failure episodes occurred in up to 53% of the patients during follow-up. Although it is assumed that non-compacted myocardium is more prone to thrombus formation, this appears to be a rare event in LVNC [78]. The reported incidence of systemic thromboembolic events in LVNC—including stroke, transient ischemic attack, and mesenteric ischemia—varies between 21% [3] and 5% [39,41] in more recent papers. During follow-up, atrial fibrillation occurred in 7% of patients [72], while sustained and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia episodes were reported in up to 33% [24] and 6% of cases [41], respectively. In 66 affected children, the occurrence of congestive heart failure at 1 year of follow-up was 68%, irrespectively of the coexistence of a congenital heart disease [27]. The cardiovascular mortality rate was initially reported at 35% after a median follow-up of 3.7 years [2]. However, two more recent studies based on a larger cohort estimated mortality at 11–22% [41,78] after a similar follow-up length. In analogy, sudden death, initially complicating 18% [2] of cases, has been progressively reported less frequently, lately being found at 1–4% [41,78]. Independent predictors of cardiovascular death or heart transplantation include NYHA class III–IV, sustained ventricular arrhythmias, left atrial size [41], an impaired left ventricular ejection fraction, a dilated left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, reduced systolic blood pressure, and pulmonary hypertension [64]. CMR evidence of LGE has also been related to a worse prognosis [58]. However, from a recent meta-analysis of 28 studies including 2501 LVNC patients, EF appears to be the strongest predictor of death [79]. Right ventricular function needs also attention: right ventricular dysfunction has recently been associated with a higher risk of events in patients with biventricular involvement [80]. Pregnancy in women with LVNC is often complicated by heart failure and arrhythmias. Therefore, preconception genetic counseling with the consideration of genetic testing should be provided, as most of the genes associated with LVNC cardiomyopathy have overlap with other cardiomyopathies, and are associated with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance [81]. In children with LVNC, adverse outcomes including death or transplant may occur in a variable percentage of patients. The Australian registry for cardiomyopathy in childhood reported a worse prognosis in the long term of LVNC compared to dilated cardiomyopathy in the paediatric population [9]. The mortality rate was specifically higher in children presenting in the first year of life in all of the studies (the highest reported mortality was 30.4% [52]), suggesting that the neonatal form of LVNC represents a more malignant phenotype. A lower proportion of negative outcomes was reported in Japanese and Chinese children with LVNC [3,29]. In all of the studies involving a paediatric population, initial presentation with reduced ventricular function was related to increased mortality risk [3,30,64,78]. Other factors predicting poor outcomes were younger age at diagnosis [62,78] dilated LV [3,9,62], reduced strain values [62], ventricular arrhythmias [28,55], and raised end-diastolic pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure with invasive measurements [2].

11. Management

The medical treatment of patients with LVNC and decompensated systolic/diastolic dysfunction should follow international guidelines for the management of heart failure [82]. Medical therapy should also be administrated in asymptomatic patients with echocardiographic evidence of systolic dysfunction in order to prevent or delay the development of heart failure. In patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy, CRT should be considered, when appropriate. ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients in all LVNC has been proposed but is still controversial. The current guidelines recommend ICD implantation when EF is ≤35% despite optimal medical therapy, and in patients who recovered from symptomatic VT [82]. Anticoagulation treatment is recommended in those with a history of atrial fibrillation, previous embolic events, known ventricular thrombi, or severe systolic dysfunction with hypo/akinetic apex, irrespective of thrombotic risk scores [78]. However, despite the absence of evidence of a clear benefit, the routine administration of anticoagulation has recently been proposed [83] and may be considered in LVNC patients, according to the latest guidelines [82].

12. Conclusions

LVNC is an extremely heterogeneous disorder with a highly variable clinical presentation, morphologic appearance in imaging tests, and prognosis. Trabeculations may be found in the context of ventricular overload, with these being reversible in some cases. For this reason, whether hypertrabeculated LV fulfilling the diagnostic criteria in the absence of symptoms, familiar history or signs of ventricular dysfunction should be considered an early form of cardiomyopathy is still matter of debate. It can be speculated that LVNC comprises a wide spectrum from a purely morphological trait with no heamodynamic consequences to a real muscular disease, potentially associated with adverse outcomes. Where to place a cut-off for disease diagnosis remains to be determined. The current evidence suggests that LVNC in children may be a more severe disease with higher mortality, especially for those presenting in the first year of life with ventricular dysfunction. Further studies are needed to define the disease features in order to identify patients at higher risk of death or complications. Novel imaging techniques may be helpful in differential diagnosis, providing essential functional data related to prognosis. International collaborations are warranted in order to ensure the inclusion of a greater number of patients, aiming to elaborate new diagnostic criteria and validate a clear diagnostic path for LVNC, including patients’ personal and familiar history, and a multiparametric evaluation with morphologic and functional data.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, F.F., N.B. and R.B.; methodology, N.B. and G.D.C.; resources, F.V. and R.B.; writing—original draft preparation, F.F. and G.S.; writing—review and editing, B.S. and G.D.C.; visualization, F.V.; supervision, B.S. and G.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. LV hypertrabeculation classification.
Figure 1. LV hypertrabeculation classification.
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Figure 2. LVNC in a young patient with no cardiological symptoms. The patients presented at the ER with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Transthoracic echocardiography showed hypertrabeculated LV (A). During a transoesophageal echocardiogram to rule out intra-atrial clots, the deep transgastric view at 0 degrees demonstrated the spongy aspect of the apex (B). CMR confirmed the diagnosis of LVNC using the Peterson criteria (C), and showed a mildly reduced ejection fraction.
Figure 2. LVNC in a young patient with no cardiological symptoms. The patients presented at the ER with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Transthoracic echocardiography showed hypertrabeculated LV (A). During a transoesophageal echocardiogram to rule out intra-atrial clots, the deep transgastric view at 0 degrees demonstrated the spongy aspect of the apex (B). CMR confirmed the diagnosis of LVNC using the Peterson criteria (C), and showed a mildly reduced ejection fraction.
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Figure 3. LVNC in a patient with repaired aortic coarctation. Three-dimensional echocardiography with full-volume acquisition allows the better visualization of multiple apical intertrabecular recesses with multislice (A) and 3D reconstructions (B).
Figure 3. LVNC in a patient with repaired aortic coarctation. Three-dimensional echocardiography with full-volume acquisition allows the better visualization of multiple apical intertrabecular recesses with multislice (A) and 3D reconstructions (B).
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Figure 4. LVNC in a 5-year-old patient with a family history of dilated cardiomyopathy presenting with heart failure symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography showed dilated LV with severely impaired systolic function and an estimated ejection fraction of 30% (A), the spongy aspect of the apex on echocardiographic short axis view (B), and perfused intertrabecular recesses seen on a Colour Doppler (C), which are compatible with LVNC diagnosis according to both the Jenni and Stöllberger criteria.
Figure 4. LVNC in a 5-year-old patient with a family history of dilated cardiomyopathy presenting with heart failure symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography showed dilated LV with severely impaired systolic function and an estimated ejection fraction of 30% (A), the spongy aspect of the apex on echocardiographic short axis view (B), and perfused intertrabecular recesses seen on a Colour Doppler (C), which are compatible with LVNC diagnosis according to both the Jenni and Stöllberger criteria.
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Figure 5. Proposed stepwise diagnostic pathway.
Figure 5. Proposed stepwise diagnostic pathway.
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Table
Table 1. LVNC diagnostic criteria.
Table 1. LVNC diagnostic criteria.
Echocardiographic Criteria
Chim [67]
  • Numerous and prominent trabeculations with deep intertrabecular recesses.
  • Progressive increase in the LV free-wall thickness from the mitral valve level to the apex.
  • X/Y < 0.5: epicardial surface to trabeculation trough (X distance) divided by epicardial surface to trabeculation peak (Y distance) measured at end-diastole in PLAX view or apical view.
First set of proposed diagnostic criteria
Also known as the California criteria
Jenni [68]
  • No coexisting cardiac abnormalities
  • Two-layered myocardial structure: a thin, compacted (C) epicardial layer and a thicker non-compacted (NC) endocardial layer with maximal NC/C >2.0 measured in systole in short axis view
  • Non-compaction predominantly in mid-lateral, mid-inferior, and apical segments.
  • Colour Doppler evidence of perfused intertrabecular recesses.
Globally the most used set of criteria
Stöllberger [53]
  • Two-layered myocardial structure with the non-compacted endocardial layer usually thicker than the compacted layer
  • Perfused intertrabecular spaces
  • More than 3 trabeculations, apically to the papillary muscles, visualised in one image plane.
Gebhart [69]Maximal systolic compact layer thickness <8 mmProposed additional diagnostic criteria to allow differentiation from normal myocardial
Advanced
echocardiography
  • Contrast echocardiography
  • 3D echocardiography
  • Speckle tracking echocardiography
  • LV rotation
Emerging role of new technologies
See the text
CMR criteria
Petersen [70]
  • Two-layeredmyocardium
  • Compacted and non-compacted layers measured from long axis SSFP cine at the site with the most prominent trabeculations with maximal NC/C>2.3 in diastole
  • Measurement should be perpendicular to compacted myocardium
Sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 99%
Jacquier [71]Trabecular mass is measured as the difference between total LV mass and compacted myocardial
 
 
A proportion of trabecular mass >20% in SSFP cine short axis view in end-diastole is diagnostic of LVNC		Papillary muscles should be included in the compacted myocardial mass.
Sensitivity and a specificity of 93.7%:
Stacey [72]NC/C ratio measured in end-systole on SSFP imagesBetter correlation with adverse events, heart failure and systolic dysfunction
Fractal analysis [73]An automated software provides a unit-less index expression of the degree of geometrical complexity of the LV cavity.
A fractal dimensions >1.392 was used to define LVNC 		Better inter-observer reproducibility compared to both Petersen and Jacquier criteria.
LV trabeculae
quantification
[74,75]		An automated software quantifies the volumes of the compacted trabeculated areas, giving the percentage of trabelated LVHigh reproducibily
Time saving
LGE assessment Prognostic implications
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Fusco, F.; Borrelli, N.; Barracano, R.; Ciriello, G.D.; Verrillo, F.; Scognamiglio, G.; Sarubbi, B. Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Spectrum in Adults and Children: From a Morphological Trait to a Structural Muscular Disease. Cardiogenetics 2022, 12, 170-184. https://doi.org/10.3390/cardiogenetics12020016

AMA Style

Fusco F, Borrelli N, Barracano R, Ciriello GD, Verrillo F, Scognamiglio G, Sarubbi B. Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Spectrum in Adults and Children: From a Morphological Trait to a Structural Muscular Disease. Cardiogenetics. 2022; 12(2):170-184. https://doi.org/10.3390/cardiogenetics12020016

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fusco, Flavia, Nunzia Borrelli, Rosaria Barracano, Giovanni Domenico Ciriello, Federica Verrillo, Giancarlo Scognamiglio, and Berardo Sarubbi. 2022. "Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Spectrum in Adults and Children: From a Morphological Trait to a Structural Muscular Disease" Cardiogenetics 12, no. 2: 170-184. https://doi.org/10.3390/cardiogenetics12020016

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