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Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Meaning

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) is a pathological condition characterized by an abnormal increase in the mass and thickness of the muscular wall of the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle. This structural change is typically a compensatory response to chronic pressure overload, such as long-standing hypertension or aortic stenosis, where the muscle thickens to generate more force. While initially adaptive, sustained LVH is a significant risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events, including heart failure and sudden cardiac death, and can be influenced by endocrine factors like growth hormone and thyroid hormone status.