UCSF

Aim: Assess the extent of low- versus high-intensity late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: Low- versus high-intensity LGE indexed volumes in 19 HCM patients were compared to 23 myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Results: Total, low-, and high-intensity LGE volumes in HCM vs. MI were 7.6 ml/m2, 4.7, and 2.4 vs. 11.2, 2.5, and 7.1, respectively. Total LGE volume did not differ (P=13), though low- and high-intensity did (P=05, .004). 67% versus 26% of all LGE was low-intensity in HCM versus MI (P<.001). Conclusions: LGE in HCM is predominantly low-intensity, so a low threshold may be the most appropriate.