DETERMINATION OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR MASS IN CLINICAL-PRACTICE

Left ventricular (LV) mass is affected by cardiovascular diseases and disorders. An increase in LV mass during a disease process may suggest disease progression, while a decrease in mass may suggest disease reg ression. Thus, LV mass can be used to follow the natural history of a disease or disorder and to evaluate the effect of therapeutic interven tions. Although several methods have been used to determine LV mass in clinical practice, their application requires knowledge of their limi tations and advantages. Most such techniques are insufficiently sensit ive or specific to define LV mass changes in individual patients. Cons equently, it may be more beneficial to evaluate therapy-related change s in LV mass in large patient groups.