Left ventricular (LV) involvement in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is fairly well known, but the evolution of LV involvement during long-term follow-up has not been well documented. We describe such evolution in a patient followed for 9 years. Evolution was confirmed by a progressive perfusion defect of the LV wall in myocardial scintigrams and by the development of LV asynergy with ventricular aneurysm formation in left ventriculograms. As the right ventricle progressively enlarged, we concluded that ARVC is a diffuse and progressive myocardial disease that affects both ventricles.

Keywords:
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, Left ventricular involvement, Left ventricular aneurysm, Myocardial scintigraphy
1.
Gallo P, D’Amati G, Pelliccia F: Pathologic evidence of extensive left ventricular involvement in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Hum Pathol 1992;23:948–952.
2.
Pinamonti B, Sinagra G, Salvi A, Di Lenarda A, Morgera T, Silvestri F, Bussani R, Camerini F: Left ventricular involvement in right ventricular dysplasia. Am Heart J 1992;123:711–724.
3.
Corrado D, Basso C, Thiene G, McKenna WJ, Davies MJ, Fontaliran F, Nava A, Silvestri F, Blomstorm-Lundqvist C, Wlodarska EK, Fontaine G, Camerini F: Spectrum of clinicopathologic manifestations of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia: A multicenter study. J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;30:1512–1520.
4.
Pinamonti B, Di Lenarda A, Sinagra G, Silvestri F, Bussani R, Camerini F: Long-term evolution of right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy. The Heart Muscle Disease Study Group. Am Heart J 1995;129:412–415.
5.
Webb JG, Kerr CR, Huckell VF, Mizgala HF, Ricci DR: Left ventricular abnormalities in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Am J Cardiol 1986;58:568–570.
6.
Miani D, Pinamonti B, Bussani R, Silvestri F, Sinagra G, Camerini F: Right ventricular dysplasia: A clinical and pathological study of two families with left ventricular involvement. Br Heart J 1993;69:151–157.
7.
Kamide K, Satoh S, Okamoto K, Ueda T, Katoh H, Nakano S, Katoh O, Kobayashi T, Matsuda H, Shibata N: A case of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia with left and right ventricular hypofunction in an elderly subject – long-term follow-up. Jpn Circ J 1997;61:872–876.
8.
Basso C, Thiene G, Corrado D, Angelini A, Nava A, Valente M: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Dysplasia, dystrophy, or myocarditis? Circulation 1996;94:983–991.
9.
Peters S: Left ventricular impairment in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia: What we can learn from angiography. Cardiology 1995;86:473–476.
10.
Nemec J, Edwards BS, Osborn MJ, Edwards WD: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia masquerading as dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol 1999;84:237–239.
11.
Fontaine G, Fontaliran F, Andrade FR, Velasquez E, Tonet J, Jouven X, Fujioka Y, Frank R: The arrhythmogenic right ventricle. Dysplasia versus cardiomyopathy. Heart Vessels 1995;10:227–235.
12.
Thiene G, Nava A, Corrado D, Rossi L, Pennelli N: Right ventricular cardiomyopathy and sudden death in young people. N Engl J Med 1988;318:129–133.
13.
Higuchi S, Caglar NM, Shimada R, Yamada A, Takeshita A, Nakamura M: 16-year follow-up of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Am Heart J 1984;108:1363–1365.
14.
Blomstorm-Lundqvist C, Sabel K-G, Olsson SB: A long term follow up of 15 patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Br Heart J 1987;58:477–488.
15.
Jaoude SA, Leclercq JF, Coumel P: Progressive ECG changes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular disease. Evidence for an evolving disease. Eur Heart J 1996;17:1717–1722.
© 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel
2000
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.