{Reference Type}: Case Reports {Title}: Predicting apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using T-wave inversion: Three case reports. {Author}: Kang L;Li YH;Li R;Chu QM; {Journal}: World J Clin Cases {Volume}: 11 {Issue}: 25 {Year}: 2023 Sep 6 {Factor}: 1.534 {DOI}: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i25.5970 {Abstract}: 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.
METHODS: 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.
CONCLUSIONS: Electrophysiological abnormalities of AHCM appear earlier than structural abnormalities, confirming the early predictive value of ECG for AHCM.