Premature ventricular complexes as a first manifestation in left ventricular non‐compaction cardiomyopathy: A case report and focused review of the literature

Abstract

Left ventricular non‐compaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy is an uncommon unclassified or genetic myocardial disorder. Frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) as unique finding in LVNC cardiomyopathy are rare. We report a case of a 36‐year‐old woman in whom isolated LVNC was diagnosed due to an incidental finding of PVCs in pre‐operative consultation.

Frequent premature ventricular complexes as unique electrocardiographic finding in left ventricular non‐compaction cardiomyopathy are rare. Thus, physicians must always pay attention to this “benign” arrythmia in order to allow a proper diagnosis.

1. INTRODUCTION

Isolated LVNC is characterized by prominent LV trabeculae and deep intertrabecular recesses which are filled with blood from the ventricular cavity without evidence of communication to the epicardial coronary artery system. Additionally, a thin compacted layer of myocardium is present. It has been cataloged as an unclassified cardiomyopathy by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), while the American Heart Association (AHA) classifies it as a genetic cardiomyopathy. ¹ , ² About its pathogenesis, a congenital and an acquired basis have been proposed. The former states that during the embryological heart development process the myocardial compaction is disrupted through unknown mechanisms, and the latter that LVNC could be acquired and developed on time. ³ Besides, trabeculations that could fulfill criteria for LVNC have been described in athletes, pregnancy, and patients with chronically increased LV pre‐load and afterload diseases like heart valve disease, chronic renal failure, and sickle cell disease. ³

Nevertheless, a family history has been described in a significant proportion of patients with an autosomal dominant X‐linked transmission. ⁴ Furthermore, several gene mutations have been reported primarily in genes coding for sarcomeric, cytoskeletal, Z‐line, and mitochondrial proteins. ⁴ The first mutation described was in the tafazzin gene, although others like MYH7, RYR2, and lamin A/C have been reported. These findings suggest that also genetics is involved in LVNC development. ⁴ Consequently, current research evidence points toward to its reclassification as a distinct phenotype resulting from the interaction between the environment and genetics. ⁵

LVNC prevalence in general population is not known, but it has been described between 0.014 and 1.3% in patients undergoing echocardiography. ⁶ , ⁷ , ⁸ Even though it has been reported in some cases, the right ventricular non‐compaction (RVNC) real prevalence is unknown maybe due to its unclear definition and recognition. ³ Nowadays, there is no gold standard for LVNC diagnosis; however, echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) are the best diagnostic tests currently available. ³

Clinical manifestations of the LVNC cardiomyopathy are multiple and non‐specific, including dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations, and syncope. Furthermore, non‐sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), left bundle branch block (LBBB), and atrial fibrillation (AF) have been described as the most frequent electrocardiographic findings. ⁸ , ⁹ , ¹⁰ , ¹¹ Herein, we describe a case of frequent PVCs as first manifestation of a patient with LVNC cardiomyopathy.

2. CASE REPORT

A 36‐year‐old woman in whom a left anterior cruciate ligament repairment was planned reported a history of 3 months of palpitations and dyspnea in the pre‐anesthetic examination, where arrhythmic heart sounds were found, reason why she was referred for cardiologist evaluation.

An initial electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus rhythm without any abnormality, and a normal echocardiogram was obtained. The 24 h Holter‐ECG showed frequent PVCs with an arrhythmic burden of 35% (Figure 1), so β‐blocker therapy was prescribed. Ischemic substrate was ruled‐out with a dobutamine stress‐echocardiogram as well as Chagas disease and electrolyte disturbances. However, the CMR revealed prominent trabeculae and deep recesses in the left ventricle (LV) apex, as well as in the anterior, inferior, and lateral wall of the LV. The right ventricle (RV) was normal without any myocardial or function disturbances (Figure 2). Therefore, the diagnosis of isolated LVNC cardiomyopathy was proposed.

FIGURE 1.

Holter monitor showing PVCs in trigeminy pattern. Abbreviation: PVCs, Premature ventricular complexes

FIGURE 2.

(A) CMR cine sequence showing prominent trabeculae and deep recesses (yellow arrows) in the LV apex and lateral wall and a maximum end‐diastolic noncompacted to compacted myocardial thickness ratio of >2.3 (B) LV noncompacted to compacted myocardial thickness ratio >2 at the end of the systole. Abbreviations: CMR, Cardiac magnetic resonance; LV, Left ventricular

Despite the prescription of highest‐tolerated dose of β‐blocker therapy, it was recorded a persistent high PVCs burden (22%) in a 24 h Holter‐ECG; reason why the patient was referred to the Electrophysiologist for ventricular ablation. On the procedure day, the baseline ECG of the patient showed a sinus rhythm with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) complexes in ventricular bigeminy. The preliminary electrophysiology study found normal sinus function test, normal atrioventricular conduction intervals, and absence of accessory pathways. Then, a Pentarray Biosense® catheter was used to obtain a RVOT‐3D electroanatomic mapping with the CARTO‐3 mapping system.

The activation map identified the PVCs origin in the anterolateral segment of the RVOT (Figure 3) where the topostimulation with pass mode and pattern‐matching showed a correlation of the 95% compared with the extrasystole. Then, radiofrequency ablation was performed. Afterward, no tachycardia was induced with the programmed auricular and ventricular heart stimulation. No complications related to the procedure were reported and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the next day, with her previous antiarrhythmic medication. In the follow‐up after 3 months of the ventricular ablation, remains asymptomatic and free of PVCs.

FIGURE 3.

Voltage map with 3D CARTO‐3 system showing primo activation zone in the anterolateral segment of the right ventricular tract outflow, where radiofrequency ablation was performed.

3. DISCUSSION

The diagnosis of LVNC is usually stablished by identifying the morphologic diagnostic criteria proposed by Jenni et al. on transthoracic echocardiography, which are the most validated and commonly used. ¹² Those include the following: (1) Absence of coexisting cardiac abnormalities (by definition); (2) a two‐layer structure with a compacted thin epicardial band and a much thicker noncompacted endocardial layer of trabecular meshwork with deep endomyocardial spaces. A maximal end‐systolic ratio of noncompacted to compacted layers of >2; (3) a predominant localization of the affected segments at the mid‐lateral, mid‐inferior, and apical areas. Concomitant regional hypokinesia was not confined to the noncompacted segments; (4) color Doppler evidence of deep perfused intertrabecular recesses; and (5) a compacted wall thickness under or equal to 8.1 mm. ¹³ , ¹⁴ , ¹⁵

Despite this, sometimes the echocardiographic findings are not diagnostic or are inconclusive as occurred in our patient, and a CMR should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Anyway, the CMR criteria for diagnosis of LVNC differ slightly from the echocardiographic criteria, since an end‐diastolic noncompacted to compacted ratio >2.3 measured in the CMR at basal, mid, and apical segments has been considered the cutoff and the most accurate morphologic criteria for LVNC diagnosis. ³ , ¹⁶ , ¹⁷ , ¹⁸ The CMR criteria was fulfilled in our case with an end‐diastolic noncompacted to compacted ratio >3.

Although LVNC could be associated with other cardiomyopathies and congenital cardiac defects, ¹⁹ , ²⁰ , ²¹ , ²² , ²³ , ²⁴ it also could be found in highly trained athletes, patients with sickle cell anemia and pregnants. ²⁵ , ²⁶ , ²⁷ , ²⁸ However, as we described in our patient, LVNC could be seen in the absence of these anomalies and is referred as isolated LVNC.

LVNC cardiomyopathy complications include ventricular and atrial arrhythmias, sudden death, systemic embolism, and also heart failure which is the most frequently complication described among several series in children and adults. ⁸ , ⁹ , ¹⁰ , ¹¹

An abnormal electrocardiogram has been described almost in 90% of patients with LVNC cardiomyopathy. ²⁸ The hypertrabecular state observed in this entity has been related to conduction abnormalities and arrhytmias, ²⁹ due to its relationship with the development of the His‐Purkinje system during the embryogenic period. ²⁹

Potentially, non‐compaction itself may represent a proarrhythmogenic substrate, and therefore, several mechanisms have been proposed to explain it including concurrent development of arrest of the conduction system, intertrabecular crypts creating pathways for reentrant circuits, and ischemia from epicardial coronary hypoperfusion of trabeculations. ³⁰

Abnormal electrocardiographic findings related but not specific to LVNC are left or right bundle brunch blocks, fascicular blocks, repolarization abnormalities such as T‐Wave inversion and ST‐Segment changes high‐degree atrioventricular block, AF, atrial flutter, VT and Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome mainly in children. ⁸ , ⁹ , ¹⁰ , ¹¹ Frequent PVC symptoms related as a first manifestation of LVNC are very unusual. ⁸ , ⁹ , ¹⁰ , ¹¹ Nevertheless, no specific electrocardiographic finding has been identified. ²⁸

In this case, is noteworthy the finding on the activation map with the CARTO‐3 mapping system showing PVCs that originate from the anterolateral segment of the RVOT, an area where no myocardial trabeculations were detected by the CMR. It could be explained by the fact that this location has been previously described as a predilected anatomic region where the PVCs arise in most cases. ³¹ Moreover, despite non‐compaction myocardium was not detected in the right ventricle by MRI at the RVOT, there could be some undiagnosed microscopic tissue abnormalities in that region triggering the PVCs. ³¹

Up to date, there are no specific guidelines for management of LVNC. Its diagnosis requires to rule‐out differential diagnoses as prominent hypertrabeculation with normal compacted LV layer, hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroelastosis, and LV apical thrombus among others. Its management should include clinical monitoring for asymptomatic patients with normal LV size and function or clinical guidance according to current therapeutic evidence in symptomatic patients due to LV dysfunction and/or arrythmias. Genetic testing for LVNC is not always available and it should not change the clinical management of the disease, but it may be useful for LVNC diagnosis screening in patient's relatives. ³

4. CONCLUSION

PVCs could be the first manifestation of LVNC cardiomyopathy. Thus, physicians must always pay attention to this “benign” arrythmia, especially when a high arrhythmic burden is detected, in order to allow a proper diagnosis of a potential cardiomyopathy and to establish accurately its management and treatment.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Alejandro Sánchez Velásquez and Alexander Álvarez Ortiz studied the conception and designed the study, and also reviewed the manuscript. Cristian Orlando Porras Bueno wrote and reviewed the manuscript and also was involved in acquisition of data and analysis of data.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflict of interest.

CONSENT

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient to publish this report in accordance with the journal's patient consent policy.

Sánchez Velásquez A, Álvarez Ortiz A, Porras Bueno CO. Premature ventricular complexes as a first manifestation in left ventricular non‐compaction cardiomyopathy: A case report and focused review of the literature. Clin Case Rep. 2022;10:e06139. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.6139

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author