BACKGROUND: The effects of focal hypertrophy on geometry of the left ventricle and systolic function have not been studied in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), despite the fact that the former is the most prominent disease characteristic. The aim of our study was to analyze systolic function over ventricle geometry, generating a functional index made from left ventricle end diastolic dimension (LVEDD) divided by end diastolic thickness of the region with maximal extent of hypertrophy and interventricular septum.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our hospital database of cardiac magnetic resonance was screened for HCM. Geometric functional index (GFI) was calculated for LVEDD over maximal end diastolic thickness (MaxEDT) giving GFI-M, while LVEDD over interventricular septum was expressed as GFI-I. There were 55 consecutive patients with HCM.

RESULTS: There were 43 males (78.2%) and 12 females (21.8%). The mean age was 52.3±16.7 years (range: 15.5–76.4 years). A significant difference of GFI was found for preserved versus impaired systolic function of the left ventricle (preserved systolic function); GFI-M 2.28±0.60 versus 3.66±0.50 (p<0.001), and GFI-I 2.75±0.88 versus 3.81±0.87 (p<0.001), respectively. Diagnostic value was tested using receiver operating curve (ROC) analyzes, with GFI-M area under curve (AUC)=0.959 (95% CI: 0.868–0.994); (p<0.001) and GFI-I-AUC=0.847 (0.724–0.930); (p<0.001). GFI-M was superior to GFI-I for appraisal of left ventricle systolic dysfunction in HCM; ΔAUC=0.112 (0.018–0.207); (p=0.020).

CONCLUSIONS: GFI is a simple tool, with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting impairment of systolic function in patients with HCM. Further studies would be necessary to investigate its clinical and prognostic impacts, as well as reproducibility with prospective validation.

Keywords: Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic, Heart Ventricles, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine