Curvature analysis of ventriculograms: how useful is it to assess progression of left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction

Angiographic data of 23 patients are used to assess the progression of left ventricular enlargement by a regional curvature analysis. The derived information is correlated with the results obtained by a classical method of ventricular function study to improve the understanding of complex changes in regional ventricular wall motion. The methodology to quantify curvatures from right anterior oblique left ventriculograms is also emphasized. It is shown that in its present form, the procedure is useless, as it does not yield reliable information. Nevertheless, the fact that this analysis points toward the apex of the ventricle as one of the key areas during progressive dilatation suggests that important physiologic information could be obtained in an adequate mathematical description of this area