Clinical implication of left precordial T wave inversions in the presence of complete right bundle branch block

This study was designed to elucidate whether left precordial negative T waves are electrocardiographic indicators for the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) even in the presence of complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB). In 7 consecutive patients with CRBBB accompanied by negative T waves in at least one of the left precordial leads (V4, V5, V6, maximal negativity; 1.06 +/- 0.40 mVol) (left precordial negative T wave group) and in 15 randomly selected CRBBB patients without left precordial T wave inversions (control group), echocardiography was performed to rule out underlying diseases causing left ventricular overload and to identify candidates for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. None had anginal pain indicating ischemic heart disease. When 2-dimensional echocardiography indicated left ventricular hypertrophy with wall thickness > or = 15 mm, the magnitude and distribution of hypertrophy were scrutinized on contiguous left ventricular MR short-axis images. The diagnostic criterion of HCM was the demonstration of hypertrophy with a wall thickness of 20 mm or more on the left ventricular MR short-axis images. All patients in the left precordial negative T wave group had negative T waves in both I (negativity; 0.27 +/- 0.17 mVol) and aVL (negativity; 0.23 +/- 0.14 mVol), whereas none in the control group did. The diagnostic criterion for HCM was fulfilled in six patients in the left precordial negative T wave group. However there were no patients who fulfilled the criterion in the control group. Negative T waves were recorded in the I (negativity; 0.30 +/- 0.17 mVol), aVL (negativity; 0.25 +/- 0.14 mVol), V4 (negativity; 1.03 +/- 0.46 mVol), V5 (negativity; 0.83 +/- 0.37 mVol) and V6 leads (negativity; 0.31 +/- 0.31 mVol) in all patients with HCM, while they were recorded in only 6% of the patients without HCM. In conclusion, the existence of left precordial negative T waves in the presence of CRBBB strongly indicates HCM.     

Giant T wave inversion as a manifestation of asymmetrical apical hypertrophy (AAH) of the left ventricle. Echocardiographic and ultrasono-cardiotomographic study.

Left ventricular scanning by echocardiography and ultrasono-cardiotomography was performed to search the possible muscular abnormality in 9 cases with giant T wave inversion without documented cause. The deeply inverted T wave was more than 1.2 mV (average was 1.63 mV) in the left precordial leads. All the cases had electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy of obscure origin and ischemic episode was absent. Conventional echo beam direction to measure the short axis of the left ventricle disclosed almost normal thickness and movement of both interventricular septum (IVS) and the posterior wasll (PW), so that the report of these cases is frequently within normal limits. However, ultrasono-cardiotomography (sector B scan) disclosed the fairly localized hypertrophy near the left ventricular apex, and conventional echocardiography also revealed the same area of either IVS or PW or both below the insertion of the papillary muscles, when the scanning towards the apex was performed (asymmetrical apical hypertrophy: AAH). Control study of 9 cases with IHSS showed asymmetrical septal hypertrophy (ASH) with almost equally hypertrophied IVS from base to apex. All cases had inverted T waves, but these were of lesser degree. Three cases had relatively deep T wave compatible with those of AAH, and these cases also had the apical hypertrophy of considerable degree (unusual type of IHSS, i.e., intermediate type between AAH and ASH). The close relationship between the depth of the inverted T waves and the Apex/Mid wall thickness ratios suggests that the altered recovery process of the hypertrophied apical musculature is responsible for the giant T wave inversion of heretofore unsolved origin. Until the connective link of AAH to the other forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is disclosed, the cases with such a T wave and the apical hypertrophy may be designated as asymmetrical apical hypertrophy (AAH).     

Correlations between electrocardiographic findings and echocardiographic patterns in 116 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

To evaluate the correlation between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic m-mode (E-TM) and two-dimensional (E-2D) patterns, 116 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were studied by these two methods. Patients were classified into four types, according to Maron et al's E-2D classification of HCM. In addition a subgroup (IIIb) of 15 patients in types III, had typical left ventricular concentric hypertrophy. Twelve per cent of the study patients had a normal ECG, and most often those patients showed types I-II and IIIb. Left ventricular hypertrophy by ECG was most frequent (46%) and was found mostly in type III (P less than 0.02). Abnormal Q waves, suggestive but not diagnostic of HCM, were found in 22 of 116 (18%) patients, and were present in equal proportion in each morphologic type. Isolated ST-T changes were found in the same percentage of patients. Six of 7 patients with giant negative T waves had apical left ventricular hypertrophy, but 4 other patients with apical hypertrophy had no such ECG findings. Mean left atrial dimensions at E-TM, although larger in patients with atrial fibrillation, with statistical significance (P less than 0.001), were not predictive of this arrhythmia. ECG is still useful in the diagnosis of HCM, although there is no abnormal pattern specific for the disease, and even a normal ECG can be found in these patients.     

Treadmill exercise test in children with cardiomyopathy and postmyocarditic myocardial hypertrophy

Summary The treadmill exercise test with the Bruce protocol was performed in three patients with postmyocarditic myocardial hypertrophy (PMH) and ten patients with cardiomyopathy, including three with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), five with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), and two with hypertrophic and nonobstructive cardiomyopathy (HCM). The endurance time was below the normal level in all but one case and was normal or near normal in the three cases with PMH. ST depression was observed in five cases, none of which were of HCM. A marked increase in amplitude of the negative phase of the P wave in V₁ was observed in one patient with DCM. The response of blood pressure during the exercise was abnormal in patients with DCM and HCM but was normal in PMH.     

心尖肥厚型心肌病的心电图特征

分析１０例心尖肥厚型心肌病的心电图。９例Ｖ３－Ｖ６Ｒ波异常高大，尤以Ｖ３－Ｖ５，为甚，伴Ｔ波倒置。内８例呈巨大倒置Ｔ波。６例２４小时动态心电图２例活动平板心电图运动试验心率增快时Ｔ波倒置无变化。     

Recognition of regional hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using thallium-201 emission-computed tomography: Comparison with two-dimensional echocardiography

The configuration of the hypertrophied myocardium was evaluated by thallium-201 emission-computed tomography and 2-dimensional (2-D) sector scan in 10 patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), 10 with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves and 10 with concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Thallium-201 myocardial imaging was reconstructed into multiple 12-mm-thick slices in 3 planes. The thickness ratio of the ventricular septum and the LV posterior wall in the short-axis plane and the ratio of the ventricular septum and the apical wall in the long-axis plane were analyzed. In the patients with obstructive HC the ventricular septal wall thickness index was increased, and the ratio of septal to posterior wall thickness index (1.45 ± 0.23) was greater than that in the patients with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves or in those with concentric LV hypertrophy (1.03 ± 0.20 and 0.98 ± 0.11, respectively; p <0.01 for each). In the patients with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves, increased apical wall thickness with apical cavity obliteration was characteristic, and the ratio of ventricular septal to apical wall thickness index (0.66 ± 0.14) was less than that in the patients with obstructive HC or in those with concentric LV hypertrophy (1.46 ± 0.38 and 1.04 ± 0.09, respectively; p <0.001 for each). In contrast, technically satisfactory 2-D sector scanning (83%) demonstrated various configurations of the hypertrophied ventricularseptum, but could not detect apical hypertrophy in 4 of the 10 patients with nonobstructive HC with giant negative T waves whose LV cineangiograms demonstrated apical hypertrophy. Thus, thallium-201 emission-computed tomography is useful in evaluating the characteristics of LV hypertrophy and assists 2-D sector scan, especially in patients with apical hypertrophy in HC.     

Morphological onset and early diagnosis in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a long term analysis with nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

Objectives. A long-term follow-up study with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging was undertaken to detect the morphological onset and to establish the early diagnosis in apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).Background. A spadelike configuration on left ventriculogram (LVG) is regarded as a diagnostic criterion for the classical apical HCM. There also exists a segmented hypertrophy at the apical level without indicating the spadelike features (a nonspade configuration). To detect the hypertrophied myocardium of the nonspade configuration, circumferential scrutiny of the apex is required. Although both configurations can be underlying causes of giant negative T waves, etiological relationship between the two is not clarified.Methods. The criteria for the spadelike configuration defined on left ventricular short-axis NMR images were as follows: (apical maximal thickness ≥15 mm), (apical anterior thickness over basal anterior thickness ≥1.3) and (apical posterior thickness over basal posterior thickness ≥1.3). Thirteen patients who had predominant hypertrophy (≥15 mm) at the apical level without the spadelike configuration underwent NMR imaging twice before and after 54 ± 10 months’ follow-up.Results. Apical hypertrophy that had been confined to the lateral wall in four, the anterior-lateral wall in two, and the septal-anterior wall in one developed to become circumferential hypertrophy that fulfilled the criteria for the spadelike configuration after the follow-up period.Conclusions. The spadelike configuration can begin with the nonspade configuration and therefore, both can constitute a single disease entity of apical HCM. The early diagnosis of apical HCM can be achieved by identifying the hypertrophy frequently confined to the lateral wall at the apical level.     

Post-ischemic inversion of the T wave

The significance of new T wave inversion (so called post-ischemic T wave inversion) in the basal electrocardiogram of patients suffering from unstable angina is still controversial. Some AA suggest that the patients who develop this ecg pattern represent a subgroup with poor prognosis, particularly when to deep negative T waves (greater than 3 mm) a long QT interval is associated (giant negative T waves). On the contrary other AA suggest that there is not a different prognosis between patients which develop and which do not develop post-ischemic T waves (post-I T waves). We studied 113 patients with unstable angina: 95 patients were reviewed retrospectively (group I), 18 patients were studied perspectively (group II). In group I 63/95 developed post-I T waves (49 in anterior, 9 in inferior and 5 in both anterior and inferior leads) while 32/95 did not develop post-ischemic T waves. In group II all 18 patients developed post-ischemic T waves according to the characteristics of giant negative T waves. Follow up periods were 62 +/- 36 months in group I and 11 +/- 7 months in group II. In 61 cases (45 of group I and 16 of group II) the electrocardiogram was registered during anginal pain. ST increase and/or pseudonormalization of T wave from negative to positive, indicating transmural ischemia, was observed in 59% of patients with post-ischemic T waves vs 30% of pts without post-ischemic T waves (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Giant R wave, convex ST-segment elevation, and negative T wave during exercise treadmill test

The giant R wave syndrome is characterized by giant R wave accompanied by widening of the QRS complex, marked ST segment elevation, QRS axis deviation, and the formation of monophasic QRS-ST complex with obliteration of S wave in leads facing the ischemic zone. This report describes a 65-year-old-man with variant angina who had a transient giant R wave syndrome during an exercise treadmill test. Initially, at peak exercise, there was a convex ST segment elevation ending in a negative T wave in the same (inferior) leads which showed giant R waves. Later, in the recovery period and coinciding with an amelioration of myocardial ischemia, there was a less marked increase of R wave amplitude associated with concave ST segment elevation and positive T wave in the inferolateral leads. Subsequently, a ST segment depression in the inferolateral leads preceded the ECG normalization. The patient had also a concave ST segment elevation and positive T wave in inferolateral leads during a spontaneous episode of variant angina at rest. An emergency coronary arteriography showed a dominant right coronary artery with an 80% and a 75% diameter stenosis of the middle and distal segment, respectively; the other arteries and left ventriculogram were normal. The underlying mechanisms of the different shapes of ST segment elevation and T waveform in the setting of acute transmural myocardial ischemia are discussed.     

Possible pathogenesis of giant negative T and negative U waves in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a report of two cases]

Giant negative T (GNT) and negative U (NU) waves are electrocardiographic findings which have been frequently observed in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Here we report 2 cases. For the first patient, electrocardiographic and left ventriculographic studies before and after the development of GNT and NU waves and left ventricular high voltage during the follow-up period were performed. For the second patient, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings were obtained before and after onset of posterior myocardial infarction. In the first patient, posterior papillary muscle hypertrophy was evident on left ventriculography after appearance of GNT and NU waves. In the second patient, both GNT and NU waves disappeared after posterior myocardial infarction. Two-dimensional echocardiograms demonstrated akinesis in the posterior wall, including the posterior papillary muscle, after 8 weeks of posterior infarction. Therefore, we suggest that apical hypertrophy, especially of the posterior papillary muscle, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of GNT and NU waves in HCM.     

Exercise performance in patients with hypertension. Relation to electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy

The influence of the electrocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy on exercise performance was assessed in 101 hypertensive patients and 37 control subjects referred to an exercise testing laboratory. Maximal exercise capacity was measured by the duration of a symptom-limited, treadmill test using the modified Bruce protocol. The Romhilt-Estes point score system, as modified by Murphy, was used to define left ventricular hypertrophy by electrocardiographic criteria. After adjusting for age differences between hypertensive and control subjects, the hypertensive group without left ventricular hypertrophy had a shorter exercise duration than the control group (13.0 +/- 3.0 vs. 15.3 +/- 2.5 min, respectively; p less than 0.01). The 16 hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic evidence of hypertrophy had a shorter exercise duration than those without (10.9 +/- 2.0 vs. 13.0 +/- 3.0 min, respectively; p less than 0.01). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that age, gender, systolic blood pressure, and electrocardiographic point score were all significant independent variables in predicting exercise duration (R2 = 0.48, p less than 0.0001). Exercise duration was unrelated to QRS amplitude. The authors conclude that electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy, as manifested by P wave and T wave abnormalities, is associated with an impaired exercise capacity in a hypertensive population without prior myocardial infarction.     

Contribution of M-mode echocardiography and myocardial scintigraphy for study of ECG pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy with giant negative T waves (author's transl)

Eight normotensive patients with electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy with giant negative T waves were studied with Thallium-201 imaging and M-mode echocardiography. In all the patients Thallium scanning demonstrated increased thickness of the left ventricular walls. In five of the above cases areas of increased uptake were noted in the apical region which had increased thickness as compared to the rest of the left ventricular wall. Echocardiography showed in one subject obstructive hypertrophic myocardiopathy and in another two asymmetric septal hypertrophy. In the remaining patients there was always present septal and posterior wall hypertrophy. Reliable echocardiograms of the apex were done in five subjects and in these hypertrophy was noted. The results of the two techniques were compared and correlated clinically and with the literature. The authors conclude in agreement with other studies that the picture of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy with giant negative T waves is indicative of hypertrophic myocardiopathies. Specifically, for us, the apical hypertrophy may be the only feature of the myocardiopathy or be part of a generalized left ventricular hypertrophy which is usually asymmetric septal hypertrophy.     

Clinical significance of prominent negative T waves induced by exercise test

The significance of deep T wave inversion during and after exercise in patients with coronary artery disease has not been studied well. Using the treadmill exercise test (modified Bruce's protocol) and coronary arteriography, we evaluated 361 patients suspected of having coronary artery disease. Results were compared for patients who developed significant T wave inversions of greater than 8 mm (prominent negative T wave: PNT) and for patients who had significant down-sloping ST depressions (DS). Sixteen patients had PNT (4%) which became maximum three to five min after exercise, and ranged in depth from 8 to 15 mm (10.9 +/- 2.4 mm). There were 83 patients with DS (23%). Exercise duration was 3.3 +/- 1.4 min in the PNT group and 4.4 +/- 1.9 min in the DS group (p less than 0.01). Prevalence of three-vessel disease or left main trunk disease was 88% (14 patients) in the PNT group, 28% in the DS group, and 19% (70 patients) in the entire 361 patients. Among the 14 patients who had three-vessel disease or left main trunk disease in the PNT group, the degree of multiple stenoses exceeded 90% in the major coronary arteries and that of the left main trunk stenosis exceeded 75%. The two remaining patients included one with two-vessel disease and severe 99% narrowing of the major coronary arteries and one patient having one-vessel disease with vasospastic angina during exercise. Prevalence of coronary revascularization was 69% in the PNT group and 36% in the DS group (p less than 0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Apical hypertrophy associated with rapid T wave inversion on the electrocardiogram

Summary A 53-year-old man who had no chest pain and no family history of heart disease demonstrated a rapid T wave change on an electrocardiogram, from a positive T wave to a giant negative T wave, within 1 year. Echocardiography showed no left ventricular hypertrophy before or after the T wave change. Cine-magnetic resonance imaging revealed focal apical hypertrophy after the appearance of the giant negative T wave. Although T wave inversions sometimes develop within a short period in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, they are rare in a patient without hypertension or chest pain.     

Treadmill exercise test in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with and without coronary artery disease

We studied whether the treadmill exercise test can discriminate between normal and significant narrowing of coronary arteries in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) accompanied with chest pain, and we compared the extent of myocardial ischemia during exercise. Thirty one patients with HCM were divided into two groups; 21 with normal coronary arteries and 11 with significant narrowing of coronary arteries. The treadmill exercise test was carried out in both groups. The following parameters were more frequently seen in the group with coronary stenosis. (1) short treadmill time (338, sec vs 542, p less than 0.05). (2) delta SBP less than or equal to 60 mmHg (delta: end point minus rest, 10 cases vs 12, 0.05 less than p less than 0.1). (3) significant delta ST depression (0.17 mV vs 0.05, p less than 0.05). (4) large delta ST/delta HR (3.3 microV.min/beats vs 0.7). delta ST/delta HR greater than or equal to 2.0 was the most useful for differentiating the two groups, and it was 90% in index both sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of HCM with significant narrowing of the coronary arteries. It was concluded that treadmill exercise induced more severe myocardial ischemia in patients with HCM who had significant narrowing of the coronary arteries than in patients with HCM who had angiographically normal coronary arteries. The delta ST/delta HR was the most useful index for diagnosis of HCM with significant narrowing of the coronary arteries.     

17例肥厚型心肌病病人心电I图特点分析

目的提高对肥厚型心肌病的诊断识别.方法对1996年～2000年确诊为肥厚型心肌病17例病人的临床资料进行分析.结果全部病人心电图均有T波异常,9例心尖肥厚型心肌病病人表现为I、aVL、V2～6导联T波倒置,V1～3导联R波幅度明显增加,其中2例伴完全右束支传导阻滞者亦有左胸导联T波明显倒置;5例普遍肥厚型心肌病病人表现为T波倒置导联较心尖肥厚型心肌病病人范围小(V3～6导联伴或不伴I、aVL导联轻度倒置),V1～3导联R波幅度增加不如心尖肥厚型心肌病病人明显;2例间隔肥厚梗阻型心肌病病人有V1～3导联ST段抬高,T波直立,V1～3导联R波不增加与前两型不同;1例间隔肥厚型心肌病伴完全右束支传导阻滞者表现为V1导联呈qR形态,与心尖肥厚型心肌病伴完全右束支传导阻滞者的rsR'亦不相同.结论重视临床和心电图变化采取进一步的检查措施可以最大限度的减少该病的误诊.     

血清肌钙蛋白T在原发性高血压患者运动负荷中的变化

目的：通过研究原发性高血压（高血压病）患者运动负荷前后血清肌钙蛋白Ｔ（ＴｎＴ）的变化，拟间接推断高血压病患者合并心脏微血管及大血管病变的可能性。方法：对５４例高血压病患者（ＥＴ）进行次极量运动平板试验，并与冠心病患者及正常人进行对照，采用固相酶联免疫法进行运动前、后（６分钟及２４小时）血清ＴｎＴ的测定。对运动试验阳性及心电图有Ｔ波变化的高血压病、冠心病患者进行冠状动脉造影。结果：在运动试验阴性患者中，有Ｔ波改变的高血压病患者（冠状动脉造影阴性为９２％，阳性为８％）血清ＴｎＴ在运动后均高于运动前（Ｐ＜０．０５）。无Ｔ波变化患者仅于运动后６分钟时血清ＴｎＴ增高，２４小时血清ＴｎＴ恢复正常。高血压病患者运动试验阳性中（冠状动脉造影阴性为２６％，阳性为７４％）及冠心病、心绞痛组，运动负荷后血清ＴｎＴ６分钟及２４小时均有明显改变（Ｐ＜０．０１及Ｐ＜０．０５），并随着冠状动脉狭窄程度的加重，运动后血清ＴｎＴ值随之增高，呈正相关。结论：高血压病患者运动负荷后血清ＴｎＴ水平的检测有助于间接推断其心肌及冠状动脉受损的情况。     

Distribution patterns of hypertrophy at the apical level in patients with giant negative T waves: identification by magnetic resonance imaging

To clarify the distribution patterns of hypertrophy at the apical level in patients with giant negative T waves (GNT), ECG-gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 10 patients with GNT and in five normal controls. End-diastolic left ventricular short-axis images at the basal and apical levels were obtained in all subjects. Thicknesses of the septal, anterior, lateral and posterior walls at these two levels were measured and distribution of hypertrophied myocardium (more than or equal to 15 mm) at the apical level was examined. The ratio (R) of the maximal thickness at the apical level over that at the basal level was calculated. In normal subjects, the mean apical wall thickness was 8.7 +/- 1.9 mm. In the GNT group, the wall thickness was always greater than the mean value +3 SD of the normal control, and there were no differences among the four segmental walls. The hypertrophic portions at the apex were circumferential in three, septal-anterior-lateral in two, septal-anterior in two, septal in one, anterior in one and lateral in one. In patients with GNT, the average maximal thickness at the apical level was 19.3 +/- 3.2 mm; by location, four cases in the septum, four in the anterior wall and two in the lateral wall, and the average minimum thickness was 11.7 +/- 3.7 mm; all in the posterior wall. The R was more than 1.3 in nine patients with GNT and less than 1.0 in all normal subjects. In conclusion, there was a variety of patterns of apical hypertrophy, and the R greater than or equal to 1.3 was characteristic in patients with GNT.     

Natural history of 82 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: follow-up for over ten years]

The natural courses of 82 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were investigated in follow-up periods of over 10 years (mean follow-up: 11.7 yrs.). Twelve patients had obstructive, 30 non-obstructive and 40 apical HCM. There were 76 males and 6 females. The mean age at the initial diagnosis was 48 years. All patients underwent cardiac catheterization and left ventriculography, and two-dimensional echocardiography was conducted in some patients. To determine the clinical features influencing the prognosis, their serial laboratory and clinical data were reviewed and analyzed. Five patients died of non-cardiac causes. Only one died suddenly. Congestive heart failure developed in 3 patients, 2 with obstructive and one with non-obstructive HCM. Two patients had cavity dilatation and deteriorated ventricular function, and finally exhibited dilated cardiomyopathy-like features. Characteristically, in this deteriorating group, a decrease in the QRS voltage and an abnormal Q wave gradually developed without clinical evidence of myocardial infarction. Two patients with apical HCM in this group had decreases in their QRS voltages and in the depths of their giant negative T waves. They developed apical left ventricular asynergy without myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. There were no specific clinical or laboratory parameters predictive of sudden death. Atrial fibrillation occurred in 9 patients, resulting in 3 cases of cerebral infarction, one myocardial infarction, and one congestive heart failure. One patient received pacemaker implantation because of the sick sinus syndrome. Three had acute myocardial infarction. Aortocoronary bypass grafting was performed in 3 patients. These results indicate that the good long-term life prognosis of HCM can be expected in all types of HCM. Among the 82 patients, only one died suddenly. However, since the natural history of HCM can take a variety of courses, careful observation is necessary.     

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: clinical follow-up and diagnostic correlates

To determine the clinical course of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 26 patients (mean age 45 years) with asymmetric apical hypertrophy diagnosed by echocardiography or angiography were followed up for an average of 7.3 years (range 1 to 22). Presenting symptoms included atypical chest pain (n = 10), typical angina (n = 6), dyspnea (n = 5) and palpitation (n = 8). Ten patients were asymptomatic. At follow-up all patients had inverted precordial T waves, and 14 had the syndrome of "giant T wave negativity" (greater than or equal to 10 mm). In six patients with electrocardiographic follow-up of greater than 10 years (mean 13.4), precordial T wave inversion had progressed from -0.8 +/- 3.9 to -11.2 +/- 8.0 mm in lead V4 in association with increased QRS amplitude. Episodic atrial fibrillation occurred in 4 of 10 patients with echocardiographic left atrial enlargement. Although left ventricular systolic function was normal, diastolic relaxation was impaired in comparison with values in 10 healthy control subjects: in all 18 patients studied peak filling rate was decreased (4.44 +/- 0.44 versus 6.13 +/- 1.54 stroke volumes/s); time to peak filling was increased (174 +/- 40 versus 147 +/- 32 ms); and atrial systolic contribution to ventricular end-diastolic volume was increased (21.5 +/- 6.8 versus 11.5 +/- 4.6 stroke volume %). During follow-up, 21 of the 26 patients remained in stable condition or were asymptomatic. One patient with normal coronary arteries had an apical myocardial infarction with development of a discrete apical aneurysm and loss of "giant T wave negativity." This patient was the only one to have documented life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)