Non-Compaction of the Ventricular Myocardium Associated with Aortic Aneurysm and Severe Aortic Insufficiency: Initial Description in Two Cases

Left ventricular hyper-trabeculation (LVHT), also known as left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC), is a rare myocardial abnormality of the apex and is characterized by multiple, myocardial cotyledon-like protrusions and interwoven strings, all lined by the endocardium. It may occur without any other cardiac abnormality (isolated LVNC) or may be associated with congenital cardiac malformations. In three quarters of cases, LVHT is associated with neuromuscular disorders. LVHT usually is congenital, but it was found to also develop later in life (acquired LVHT). We report two cases of aortic aneurysm and severe aortic insufficiency with incidentally-diagnosed LVNC. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previous report of LVNC associated with aortic aneurysm and/or aortic insufficiency (Iranian Heart Journal 2009; 10 (2):40-44).