Predicting apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using T-wave inversion:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(AHCM)is a subtype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Due to its location,the thickening of the left ventricular apex can be missed on echocardiography.Giant negative T waves(GNTs)in left-sided chest leads are the hallmark electrocardiogram(ECG)change of AHCM.CASE SUMMARY The first patient was a 68-year-old woman complaining of recurrent chest tightness persisting for more than 3 years.The second was a 59-year-old man complaining of spasmodic chest tightness persisting for more than 2 years.The third was a 55-year-old woman complaining of recurrent chest pain persisting for 4 mo.In all three cases,GNTs were observed several years prior to apical cardiac hypertrophy after other causes of T-wave inversion were ruled out.CONCLUSION Electrophysiological abnormalities of AHCM appear earlier than structural abnormalities,confirming the early predictive value of ECG for AHCM.