[Long-term follow-up of electrocardiographic changes in patients with asymmetric apical hypertrophy].

The serial electrocardiographic (ECG) changes of 20 patients with asymmetric apical hypertrophy (AAH) were retrospectively reviewed relative to their clinical symptoms, echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography, and thallium-201 perfusion scintigraphy. These patients were followed 4-18 years (mean 8 years). Patterns of the serial ECG changes were as follows: Seven patients (group Ia) had an increase of 10 mm or greater in the highest R wave amplitude in the precordial leads, with newly-developed giant T wave inversion. Five patients (group Ib) had relatively stable ECGs and the changes in the R wave amplitudes of less than 10 mm. Six patients (group IIa) had a decrease of 10 mm or greater in the highest R wave amplitude with mild decreases of negative T wave amplitudes. In the remaining two patients (group IIb) right bundle branch block developed. At the last follow-up study, group IIa had lower R wave amplitudes and longer QTc than did those in group I. The follow-up periods and their mean age did not differ among the groups. At the initial evaluation, exercise limitation was rare in group I; whereas, most of the patients in group II presented symptoms such as palpitation, chest pain or exertional dyspnea. These cardiac symptoms developed slowly but progressively during the follow-up period, and their incidence increased both in groups I and II at the final observation. Left ventricular (LV) wall thickness at the chordal level showed normal values and did not differ between the two groups, but apical wall thickness was greater in group II than in group I. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed a spade-like deformity of the LV in group II. In group I, the LV deformity was less marked and was not noted at the initial examination. Color Doppler echocardiography frequently revealed "paradoxical flow" expelled from the obliterated apex to the base in the early diastolic filling period in group II. Left ventriculography confirmed asynchronous contraction, hyperkinesis in the basal segment and dyskinesis at the apical segment, resulting in this abnormal intraventricular blood flow profiles. Serial studies by thallium-201 (TL) perfusion scintigraphy disclosed that four of the eight patients in group II developed localized hypoperfusion at the apex where a high and homogeneous uptake of TL was previously noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)