Progression of hypertrophic into a dilated left ventricle in Friedreich's ataxia
Casazza, F.; Morpurgo, M.
Giornale Italiano di Cardiologia 18(7): 615-618
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0046-5968 PMID: 3234661 Document Number: 308738
The authors describe the case of a girl who developed Friedreich's ataxia at, approximately, the age of 7, with evidence of cardiac involvement being detected by electrocardiography and echocardiography at a later date. Cardiac function was moderately impaired and remained unchanged for a number of years, during which a picture of hypertrophic left ventricle seemed to be firmly established. Later still, however, the cardiac situation shifted gradually toward a hypokinetic form of the disease, with a progressive thinning of the interventricular septum and posterior wall of the left ventricle, associated enlargement of the ventricular chambers and increasingly severe hypokinesia leading to repeated episodes of heart failure.