SPONTANEOUS REGRESSION OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN A RABBIT MODEL OF AORTIC-INSUFFICIENCY - POSSIBLE CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The right timing of surgical intervention in patients with aortic insu fficiency is the crucial precondition for optimal postoperative course . To meet this demand, it is essential to have precise knowledge of th e pathogenesis of this disease. Within the rabbit model of aortic insu fficiency, four periods of adaptational changes to chronic haemodynami c overload were distinguished: developing hypertrophy, developed hyper trophy, regression of hypertrophy, and heart failure. The period of sp ontaneously developing regression of hypertrophy is linked with deteri oration of function, metabolism, and structure of the left ventricle a nd represents an indication preceding heart failure. This paper presen ts the hypothesis that, in patients with severe aortic insufficiency, the left ventricle may undergo spontaneous regression of hypertrophy. Detection of this period may contribute to the insight into the pathog enesis of this disease and help to identify the patients who are candi dates for surgery. Moreover, the onset of left ventricular diminution might represent the optimal phase for this intervention.