Isolated non-compaction of the left ventricle: A rare indication for transplantation

This report describes the diagnostic difficulty encountered in a young fema le patient presenting with neurologic symptoms, atrial fibrillation and sev ere left ventricular systolic dysfunction, eventually leading to cardiac tr ansplantation. The scrutiny used in the evaluation of the particular aspect of the left ventricle, and the integration of the information obtained fro m echocardiography, angiography and magnetic resonance imaging, led to the diagnosis of a rare and mostly unknown cause of cardiac failure. The correc t identification of this entity is mandatory because enhanced risk of throm boembolism. and malignant arrhythmia should be anticipated. A review of the literature revealed only 6 patients in whom isolated non-compaction of the left ventricle was treated by heart transplantation.