ABSTRACT
DEFINITION Myocardial hypertrophy is defined as excessive cardiomyocyte growth with protein synthesis and organization of sarcomeres, accompanied by interstitial collagen deposition and growth of the vascular compartment1. This is a self-limited response triggered by elevated extrinsic or intrinsic biomechanical stress within the myocardium. In the human ventricle, parallel and reproducible increases in cell diameter, volume, and nuclear area characterize ‘hypertrophic’ growth but are accompanied by extracellular matrix (ECM) and interstitial changes that ultimately ‘stiffen’ the hypertrophied myocardium, which affects diastole, resulting in clinical symptoms. Macroscopically, hypertrophy is characterized by wall thickening and near obliteration of the ventricular cavity (91). Classification of cardiac hypertrophy is divided into physiologic and pathologic conditions (Table 10).
