To request an appointment, contact the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute:
Image of a normal heart.
Image of a heart with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.
In LVNC, muscle in the heart's left ventricle — one of two lower chambers — becomes sponge-like, with extra space between the muscle tissues. These heart muscle changes can affect how the left chamber pumps blood and can allow blood clots to form in the chamber.
In some people, the cause of LVNC is from changes in specific genes (mutations). These gene changes can affect how the heart forms and can lead to left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.
These gene changes can be inherited from parent to child. Therefore, it is important to determine if the cause of your LVNC is secondary to gene changes.
LVNC can cause complications, including:
At the center you'll see:
If you have LVNC, you might not have any symptoms at all or even know you have the disease.
Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms such as:
Let your doctor know if you have family members who've had sudden cardiac arrest, heart failure, or a heart attack.
At the UPMC Center for Inherited Heart Disease, you'll see a heart doctor and genetic counselor. They'll screen you for LVNC and ask about your family history of heart disease.
Tests for LVNC include:
Your care team at the UPMC Center for Inherited Heart Disease will create a tailored plan to treat your LVNC. Your treatment will depend on your symptoms.
Treatment goals include managing any symptoms and reducing your risk of complications.
To help manage LVNC symptoms and improve your overall health, your doctor might suggest:
Your doctor might prescribe certain drugs to treat LVNC.
These include:
If needed, your doctor might talk to you about:
