Three dimensional modelling of the effect of arterial pulse wave velocity and body size on left ventricular geometry

Background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is known to be associated with all-cause mortality and morbidity. There is a strong relationship between LV mass and afterload but the influence of aortic vasculopathy on ventricular geometry is less well understood. Aortic stiffness (AS) is one of the earliest detectable signs of the changes that alter the structure and function of the vessel wall, and may precede the onset of systemic hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in LV geometry associated with aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) using 3D cardiac imaging of the heart