Acquired noncompaction associated with myopathy

In a 40-year-old woman, hospitalised in May 2001 because of heart failure NYHA IV due to dilated cardiomyopathy, echocardiography had shown a normally sized but poorly contracting left ventricle with normal wall thickness. In October 2005, echocardiography in the same patient revealed a dilated left ventricle with extensive trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in the lateral and posterior wall. The ratio of the noncompacted/compacted myocardium was 2. At clinical neurologic examination myopathy was suspected. Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction may be associated with neuromuscular disorders and is not a congenital abnormality in each case.