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A Young Male Patient with Subaortic Membranous Stenosis and Left Ventricular NonCompaction Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report

Authors Abdirahman Ahmed S , Farah Yusuf Mohamud M , Abdullahi Mohamud M 

Received 19 May 2021

Accepted for publication 21 September 2021

Published 2 November 2021 Volume 2021:12 Pages 53—56

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/RRCC.S313151

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3

Editor who approved publication: Dr Richard Kones



Said Abdirahman Ahmed, Mohamed Farah Yusuf Mohamud, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamud

Mogadishu Somali Turkish Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia

Correspondence: Mohamed Farah Yusuf Mohamud
Mogadishu Somali Turkish Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia
Tel +252615591689
Email [email protected]

Abstract: Left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a relatively rare primary genetic cardiomyopathy and increased in the frequency of detection. LVNC is characterized by prominent wall trabeculations and intertrabecular recesses that communicate with the ventricular cavity. It could be in isolated form or coexists with other congenital heart diseases including valvular heart disease. The prevalence of adult LVNC ranges from 0.01% to 0.27%. This present case is a 19-year-old male patient who presents as a cardiology outpatient with progressive dyspnea for one month. Physical examination revealed tachycardia and third heart sound on auscultation. A complete left bundle branch block was detected on electrocardiography, and chest X-ray showed an enlarged cardiac shadow (cardiomegaly). Echocardiography revealed left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF: 25%), a noncompact layer, hypertrabeculation, and subaortic membranous stenosis with P-mean of 32 mmHg. The patient had started heart failure management and scheduled cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for life-saving and recommended to search for either left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplantation where he can. In conclusion, the symptoms of heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias should be considered significant in apparently healthy young patients. Besides, intensive medical treatment has indicated the implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) “life-saving” and advanced cases of heart transplantation.

Keywords: left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy, subaortic membranous stenosis, cardiac resynchronization therapy

Introduction

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC), also known as “spongy myocardium”, is an uncommon abnormality of the left ventricular (LV) wall of unknown etiology that results from failure of the normal compaction process of the myocardium (formation of two layers of the myocardium: the compacted and the noncompacted layer) during the first trimester and described in children as well as in adults with and without chromosomal aberrations.1 Subaortic membrane stenosis (SMS) is a circumferential fibromuscular membrane involving the anterior mitral valve leaflet or the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) below the aortic valve. SMS is the second most common type of aortic stenosis accounting for 14% of LVOT obstruction, with a prevalence of 6.5% of all adult congenital heart diseases.2 The prevalence of LVNC was estimated to range between 0.01% and 0.27% reaped from two retrospective studies of patients referred for echocardiography.3,4 Here, we report a young male patient with subaortic membranous stenosis and left ventricular noncompaction.

Case Presentation

A 19-year-old male patient presented to the cardiology outpatient with progressive shortness of breath for one month. No family history related to cardiac disease as the parents mentioned. Effort capacity was observed in classes 2–3. Physical examination revealed tachycardia and third heart sound on auscultation. A complete left bundle branch block was detected on electrocardiography (Figure 1), and chest X-ray revealed an enlarged cardiac shadow (Figure 2). As a result of echocardiographic evaluation, the left ventricle showed a noncompact layer, hypertrabeculation, and subaortic membranous stenosis (Figure 3AC). The ejection fraction was observed to be 25% with P-mean of 32 mmHg and no thrombus was detected in the heart chambers. No valvular dysfunction as well as hypertrophy. Although cardiac MRI was the golden standard to diagnose LVNC, it was not available in Somalia.

Figure 1 Electrocardiography: shows left ventricular hypertrophy and left bundle branch block.

Figure 2 PA chest X-ray shows enlargement of cardiac shadow.

Figure 3 (AC) Echocardiographic findings: five-chamber view of two-dimensional echocardiography obtained at the time of presentation revealed noncompaction layers of left ventricular with subaortic membranous senosis and four chamber view with Doppler.

The patient was diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction with subaortic membranous stenosis and was admitted to the cardiology department. We started heart failure treatment including furosemide 20 mg, ramipril 10 mg, carvedilol 6.25 mg, and spironolactone 25 mg. Sacubitril/valsartan is a good drug but it was not available at that time. On day 4, shortness of breath was regressed, and exercise capacity was also improved (class 1–2). One week letter, we performed cardiac resynchronization. Although the disease is genetic related and the patient was young so for long term survival we recommended researching heart transplants as soon as possible since this procedure cannot be performed in our country.

Discussion

The first case of noncompaction was described by Bellet and Gouley (1932) after an autopsy performed on a newborn infant.1

The clinical presentations were variant from asymptomatic to progressive congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events, and sudden cardiac death.5

In the present case incomplete left bundle branch block was detected on electrocardiography, while Akhan and Ardahanlı reported that there is significant relationship between NCCM and TPe, cTPe, TPe/QT, TPe/cQT, and cTPe/cQT parameters.6

Our case was noncompaction cardiomyopathy with the subaortic membranous stenosis, and a similar case was mentioned by Shuhaiber et al.7 İn contrast to the present case, left ventricular noncompaction with bicuspid aortic valve was reported by Yang et al.8

In contrast to the present case, some patients are asymptomatic with preserved LV systolic function; others develop heart failure, thromboembolic events, and malignant arrhythmias. Systolic dysfunction and arrhythmias may be a consequence of dysfunction at the microcirculation level and subepicardial hypoperfusion.9

Coexisting valvular anomalies special subaortic membranous stenosis similar to our case is rare 2/55 (4%), and it needs further investigation because it can be attributed to expedite the potential for adverse clinical events.10

The prognosis of patients with LVNC is poor with high mortality that exceeds 35%, during the first four years after the development of symptoms in which half of the deaths are sudden, therefore besides intensive medical treatment, implantation of a “life-saving” implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy, and in advanced cases, heart transplantation is indicated.11 In the present case, we performed CRT as a bridging therapy to either left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplantation. Although the disease is genetic related and the patient was young so for long term survival we recommended researching heart transplants as soon as possible since this procedure cannot be performed in our country.

Ethics

Institutional approval was not required to publish the case details.

Consent

We received patient consent to publish this case report.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

References

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