Insights from magnetic resonance imaging of left ventricular non-compaction in adults of North African descent

In our retrospective cohort, twelve patients (7 male, mean age 53 ± 8 years) underwent MRI for suspected LVNC. Correlations were investigated between the number of non-compacted segments per patient and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), then between the number of non-compacted segments and left ventricular end diastolic diameter. The presence or absence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was qualitatively determined for each left ventricular myocardial segment.Non-compaction was more commonly observed at the apex, the anterior and the lateral walls, especially on their apical and mid-cavity segments. 83% of patients had impaired LVEF. There was no correlation between the number of non-compacted segments per patient and LVEF (r = -0.361; p = 0.263), nor between the number of non-compacted segments per patient and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (r = 0.280; p = 0.377). LGE was observed in 22 left ventricular segments. No association was found between the pattern of fibrosis and non-compaction distribution (OR = 2.2, CI [0.91-5.55], p = 0.076).The distribution of LVNC in North African patients does not differ from other populations. Ventricular dysfunction is independent from the number of non-compacted segments. Myocardial fibrosis is not limited to non-compacted areas but can extend to compacted segments.Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy characterized by excessive and prominent trabeculations associated with deep recesses that communicate with the ventricular cavity [1,2]. Since its first report in 1984, this disorder has attracted increased attention and still remains the subject of much debate [3].Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive exploration increasingly being employed in the diagnosis of LVNC. Due to its high quality cardiac imaging, this examination method may help to characterize and understand this disease. Thus, several MRI studies have been published describing LVNC features [4-14], ye