Echocardiographic quantification of left ventricular mass: Prognostic implications

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been shown to be an independent risk factor for adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Despite this well-known association, the lack of a standardized approach for the quantification and the monitoring of LVH regression has limited its use as a primary risk factor that can be easily clinically targeted. Echocardiography has become the most widespread tool used for the quantification of LVH. With advances in this technology, echocardiographic quantification of LVH has improved and reference standards are being used to determine the clinical implications of LVH regression. In this article, we aim to provide a current appraisal of LVH with a focus on presenting the current clinical methods used to accurately detect LVH, the prognostic implications of these findings, and help develop a therapeutic target for clinicians. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.