Assessment of increased left ventricular wall stress with the volume-based wall stress index – prediction of left ventricular hypertrophy and late gadolinium enhancement in dilati…

Introduction: Increased left ventricular (LV) wall stress is an unfavourable prognostic determinant in dilative cardiomyopathy. Besides LV hypertrophy, occurrence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was associated with an adverse outcome. We hypothesized, therefore, that increased LV wall stress is involved in the development of LV hypertrophy and is associated with LGE. Methods: LV mass, LV enddiastolic (LVEDV) and endsystolic volume (LVESV) was determined by CMR. Presence or absence of LGE was assessed in 300 patients. Based on a thick-walled sphere mode…