Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Abstract

The current electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy have been analyzed in 100 cases of pure left ventricular hypertrophy proved at autopsy. Only those cases were used in which the greatest thickness of the left ventricle was 13 mm. or more, the right ventricle did not exceed 4 mm. in thickness, and the heart weight exceeded the upper limit of the expected normal. Also, only those cases were studied on whom multiple lead electrocardiograms were available. Conclusions are presented as to which sets of electrocardiographic criteria give the greatest accuracy in the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy.