Reverse left ventricular apical rotation in dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Introduction: We describe a 56-year-old woman with dilated cardiomyopathy, whose clinical assessment, including two-dimensional echocardiography, demonstrated a spherical left ventricular geometry with severe left ventricular enlargement and dysfunction as well as reverse apical rotation. Left ventricular twist and torsion were evaluated via echocardiography with velocity vector imaging; the patient was found to have reverse rotational movement. We hereby address these issues from an echocardiographic point of view. Case Presentation: The patient was a 56-year-old woman, who referred to our clinic with complaints of dyspnea on exertion of 2 years' duration. By the time of her referral, the patient's dyspnea had exacerbated and reached New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the potential clinical benefits of therapeutic procedures such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) or apex-sparing volume-reduction surgery in DCM. A better definition of the role and implications of reverse apical torsion in DCM and its importance and effectiveness in making therapeutic decisions like CRT implantation requires further studies.