Peculiarities of cardiac contractile function in patients with arterial hypertension depending on temperament and anxiety state

The aim of the work was to elucidate the relationship between temperament and personal anxiety and between left ventricular myocardium hypertrophy, contractility and diastolic function in 671 men (mean age 54 +/- 1.8 yr) with newly diagnosed grade II arterial hypertension who took no antihypertensive drugs before the study. The tone of vegetative nervous system, serum levels of cortisol, aldosterone, thyroxin, and insulin were measured. EchoCG was used to determine left ventricular myocardium mass (LVMM), LVMM index, the ratio of transmitral blood flow at the beginning and end of diastole, left ventricular ejection and shortening fractions, end-systolic and diastolic size and volume. Phlegmatic and melancholic patients differed from cholerics and sanguinics in the predominance of parasympathetic influences, elevated blood aldosterone and insulin levels in combination with higher LVMM and LVMM index but lower left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. These characteristics were especially well apparent in anxious subjects comprising a risk group for cardiac insufficiency.     

Comparison between fundamental and second-harmonic imaging echocardiography for calculation of left ventricular mass in children

In adults, calculation of left ventricular mass (LVM) has been shown to give higher values when based on M-mode measurements obtained by the second-harmonic imaging (SHI) technique than with the older fundamental imaging (FI) technique. No information is available in paediatric subjects. This study, therefore, compares LVM calculated from measurements obtained with SHI and FI in 14 children, aged 6.9-13.0 years. M-mode tracings were obtained in accordance with American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) recommendations. Three experienced sonographers performed measurements on each subject with both SHI and FI. The mean value was used in all calculations. LVM was calculated according to ASE convention and indexed by body surface area. LVM mean values were 58.9 +/- 9.7 g m(-2) for SHI and 57.8 +/- 8.2 g m(-2) for FI (P = 0.45). This preliminary study in a small group of paediatric subjects demonstrates no systematic differences between FI and SHI modalities in the calculation of LVM. The likely explanation is that the left ventricular endocardial border is usually well visualized with SHI as well as with FI in children.     

The character of dyslipidemia and myocardial and carotid arterial remodeling in young patients with essential hypertension

The purpose of the investigation was to study the character of myocardial and vascular revascularization by the example of the carotid artery (CA) in young patients with arterial hypertension in correlation with biochemical and clinical data. Sixty-eight patients were examined. EchoCG and sonography were performed using SONOS 4500 device. Left ventricular myocardial mass (LVMM) was calculated using R. Devereus formula. Intimomedial thickness (IMT) was measured in the ostium of the common CA (CCA) bifurcation. Lipidogram was performed by "dry chemistry" method using Reflotron bioanalyzer. An elevated LVMM index was revealed in 65% of the subjects. Concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy prevailed over other types of myocardial remodeling (53%). LV diastolic dysfunction was found in 23% of the patients; LV systolic dysfunction was revealed in 56% of the subjects. IMT was increased in 27% of cases, C- and S-shape curvatures were revealed in 56.6% of the patients. In 31.3% of the subjects, atherosclerotic plaques with a 20% to 50% stenosis were found. Various forms of dyslipidemia were revealed in 75.6% of the patients. In conclusion, dyslipidemia and lesion of target organs in a form of myocardial and vascular remodeling require active antihypertensive and hypolipidemic therapy to prevent complications.     

Effects of long-term therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and carvedilol on the heart remodeling process after non-Q-wave myocardial infarction

This 2-year comparative study of EchoCG data dynamics included 230 CHD patients after primary non-Q-wave myocardial infarction of whom 76 were treated with A CE inhibitor perindopril throughout the study period (group 1) and 72 with perindopril and carvedilol (non-selective alpha-1, beta-1,2 adrenergic receptor blocker) (group 2). The control group was comprised of 82 patients that could not use either medicine for a variety of reasons. These patients developed signs of post-infarction left ventricular remodeling (enhanced MS and LVMM index, left ventricular spherization, cavity enlargement, systolic and diastolic LF dysfunction). Combined therapy arrested the remodeling process within 12 months after onset, reduced systolic MS, and promoted the tendency toward restoration of the LV geometric shape, size, diastolic and systolic function.     

On the connection between left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in arterial hypertension

AIM: To evaluate relationships between arterial pressure (AP), myocardial mass of the left ventricle (LVMM) and left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) in patients with hypertension stage I and II. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 89 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy subjects (control group). RESULTS: Initial defects in LVDF in the absence of its hypertrophy were detected already in hypertension stage I. At hypertension stage II diastolic dysfunction occurs in marked left ventricular hypertrophy. A close correlation exists between LVMM and LVMM index, on the one hand, and parameters of diastolic dysfunction, on the other hand. CONCLUSION: There is a close correlation between left ventricular hypertrophy and its diastolic dysfunction.     

Electrocardiographic diagnosis of hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium in patients with arterial hypertension and overweight

AIM: To study efficacy of different ECG criteria of hypertrophy of left ventricular myocardium (LVH) in hypertensive patients with reference to overweight and obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors analyse data on 100 patients (42 males and 58 females) aged 19-79 with diagnosis of arterial hypertension stage I-II. ECG was conducted in 12 leads. LVH by ECG was determined according to the following criteria: Sokolov-Lyon (S-L): Sv1+Rv5(v6) > 35 mm; Cornell voltage (Crn V): R avL +Sv3 > 28 mm (> 20 mm for females; Cornell product (Crn P): (RavL+Sv3)xQRSduration > 2440 mm x ms (for females RavL+Sv3 amplitudes + 0.6 mm). To verify L VH by echoCG, the authors used threshold values of left ventricular myocardium mass index (LVMMI) 125 g/m(2) for males and 110 g/m(2) for females. LVMMI was calculated by two methods: LVMM to body surface area (BSA) 2) LVMM to BSA of an ideal figure of a relevant height. Depending on the BMI all the patients were divided into 3 groups: with normal weight (BMI under 25 kg/m2), with overweight (BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m(2)), with obesity (BMI over 30 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Sensitivity of the criterion Crn-P was the highest. The S-L criterion had the least sensitivity (under 10%) in groups with overweight by more than 25 kg/m(2). In these groups sensitivity of all ECG criteria of L VH depends on some factors: on indexation of LVH by body size, gender and overweight. S-L criterion sensitivity is higher in subgroups of males irrespective of overweight and obesity. CONCLUSION: Informative value of LVH ECG criteria depends on the method of LVMM indexation by body size, overweight and gender of the patients.     

Estimation of right ventricular mass by two-dimensional echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: This report describes two original echocardiographic approaches to measure right ventricular (RV) mass (RVM). METHODS: In the bullet formula (5/24 pi D1 D2 L), where D1 and D2 are short axes and L the log axis, the RVM is obtained by subtracting the cavity volume from the RV total volume and subsequently multiplying the difference by myocardium density. The second method uses 3 endocardium segments measured at: (1) short axis plane of the aortic valve and left atrium (b1); (2) short axis plane at the midpoint between the tricuspid valve annulus and the apex (b2); and (3) 4-chamber view (h). Those segment lengths are applying in the formula A = [(b1 + b2)/2] x h. The result is multiplied by the wall thickness and by myocardium density. RESULTS: Both formulas were primarily tested in 30 mongrel dogs and have shown good correlation with the true mass ( r = 0.869 with the segments formula and r = 0.819 with the bullet formula). The same method was used in 20 human patients before heart transplant with similar results ( r = 0.810 with the segments formula and r = 0.836 with the bullet formula). CONCLUSIONS: The RVM can be satisfactorily estimated by 2-dimensional echocardiography. The linear regression between the calculated mass (using the smoothest and thinner myocardium thickness) and the actual mass may provide the correction factor for the RVM calculation. Two echocardiographic methods were used to measure right ventricular mass. One of them used a bullet formula variant (5/24 pi D1 D2 L). The second method used 3 endocardium segments measured in 3 2-dimensional echocardiographic planes (short axis of aortic valve and left ventricle, and 4-chamber view), and applied in the formula A = [(b1 + b2)/2] x h. Both formulas have shown good correlation with the true mass in 30 mongrel dogs ( r = 0.869 with the segments formula and r = 0.819 with the bullet formula) and in 20 human patients before heart transplant ( r = 0.810 and r = 0.836, respectively).     

Relationship between mass of the left ventricular myocardium and uric acid metabolic imbalance in patients with arterial hypertension

AIM: To analyse relationships between left ventricular myocardium mass (LVMM) and imbalance of uric acid metabolism in patients with arterial hypertension (AH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Body mass index, waist/hip circumference index, levels of uric acid in the blood and urine, urinary excretion of albumin, LVMM were estimated in 106 patients with mild and moderate AH (70 males and 36 females, mean age 51 +/- 8.5 years). RESULTS: Hypertensive patients with and without metabolic imbalance of uric acid differ significantly by LVMM index. The latter was higher in metabolic imbalance of uric acid, being the highest if this imbalance combined with microalbuminuria. CONCLUSION: Imbalance of uric acid metabolism in AH patients may indicate affection of both the kidneys and the heart.     

左心室松弛时间常数(Tau)无创测算的现状及前景

左心室松弛时间常数(Tau)是公认的、测量左心室舒张功能的最好指标。美国超声心动图学会(ASE)的舒张功能指导大纲(2009)推荐了两个无创测算的计算公式,但临床未得到应用。本文详细分析了以上两个无创测算方法及其弊端,并介绍了一组新的计算公式,分析了新公式可能存在的问题及解决方案。     

Parametric quantification of myocardial ischaemia using real‐time perfusion adenosine stress echocardiography images,with SPECT as reference method

Background: Real‐time perfusion (RTP) adenosine stress echocardiography (ASE) can be used to visually evaluate myocardial ischaemia. The RTP power modulation technique, provides images for off‐line parametric perfusion quantification using Qontrast^® software. From replenishment curves, this generates parametric images of peak signal intensity (A), myocardial blood flow velocity (β) and myocardial blood flow (Axβ) at rest and stress. This may be a tool for objective myocardial ischaemia evaluation. We assessed myocardial ischaemia by RTP‐ASE Qontrast^®‐generated images, using 99mTc‐tetrofosmin single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) as reference. Methods: Sixty‐seven patients admitted to SPECT underwent RTP‐ASE (SONOS 5500) during Sonovue^® infusion, before and throughout adenosine stress, also used for SPECT. Quantitative off‐line analyses of myocardial perfusion by RTP‐ASE Qontrast^®‐generated A, β and Axβ images, at different time points during rest and stress, were blindly compared to SPECT. Results: We analysed 201 coronary territories [corresponding to the left anterior descendent (LAD), left circumflex (LCx) and right coronary (RCA) arteries] from 67 patients. SPECT showed ischaemia in 18 patients. Receiver operator characteristics and kappa values showed that A, β and Axβ image interpretation significantly identified ischaemia in all territories (area under the curve 0·66–0·80, P = 0·001–0·05). Combined A, β and Axβ image interpretation gave the best results and the closest agreement was seen in the LAD territory: 89% accuracy; kappa 0·63; P<0·001. Conclusion: Myocardial isachemia can be evaluated in the LAD territory using RTP‐ASE Qontrast^®‐generated images, especially by combined A, β and Axβ image interpretation. However, the technique needs improvements regarding the LCx and RCA territories.     

Outpatient diagnostics of the initial stage of essential hypertension

The informative value of functional diagnostic methods in the revealing of the initial stage of essential hypertension (EH) in patients with high risk of cardiovascular complications (CVC) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) was studied. The subjects of the study were 186 men considering themselves practically healthy, with high risk of CVC according to SCORE scale. Mean age of the subjects was 47.9 +/- 0.87 years; persons with various metabolic disorders prevailed. The patients were divided into two groups according to body mass index (BMI): group 1 patients (n = 142) had a BMI of > or = 25 kg/m2 (29.16 +/- 0.49); group 2 (n = 46) patients had a BMI of < 25 kg/m2 (22.95 +/- 0.37). The patients underwent clinical and laboratory examination including the measurement of biochemical parameters of lipid, carbohydrate, and purine metabolism. ECG, EchoCG, and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (BPM) were performed. Office BP levels, 24-hour BMP data, and signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) according to ECG and EchoCG were evaluated. The study found that in persons with excessive body weight stable 24-hour arterial hypertension with both systolic and diastolic BP increased prevailed, while in subjects with normal body weight systolic arterial hypertension prevailed. The use of milder LVH criteria (left ventricular myocardial mass index > 116 g/m2) increased the number of persons with stage 2 EH. The prevalence of the initial stage of EH according to 24-hour BPM (87.4%) is 2.8 times higher than that according to office BP measurement (31.3%).     

Transesophageal 3-dimensional echocardiography: in vivo determination of left ventricular mass in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of transesophageal 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the in vivo calculation of left ventricular mass (LVM). In addition, mass values obtained by M-mode echocardiography were compared with those calculated by MRI. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the left ventricle was performed from a transesophageal and transgastric transducer position with a multiplane transducer in 20 patients. Left ventricular mass was calculated from both transducer positions by using slices of various thicknesses, ranging from 5 to 20 mm. Reproducibility was determined by 5 repeated measurements of mass in each of 5 randomly selected left ventricles. M-mode echocardiography was performed according to the method described by Devereux. For MRI, multiple short-axis views with 10-mm slice thickness were acquired in inspiration hold. Correlation was high for mass determined by 3DE and MRI (for 10-mm slice thickness: r = 0.99; y = 0.99 x - 0.7 g; standard error of estimate = 8.5 g; P <.001). There was no statistical bias, and the limits of agreement ranged from +/-16.4 g to +/-27.2 g, depending on the slice thickness. Variability was lowest for a slice thickness of 10 mm (SD +/- 8.2 g). The reproducibility of mass determination was excellent (mean width of the 95% CI 12.8 g). Left ventricular mass values calculated from the transgastric and transesophageal transducer position were not different from each other (mean bias 0.6 +/- 9.1 g; P = ns). M-mode-based LVM calculations showed systematic overestimation and large measurement variability (bias 23.7 g; 95% CI +/- 92.8 g). Compared with MRI, transesophageal 3DE is an accurate and reproducible method for the determination of LVM and clearly superior to M-mode echocardiography.     

Real-time perfusion adenosine stress echocardiography versus myocardial perfusion adenosine scintigraphy for the detection of myocardial ischaemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Real-time perfusion (RTP) contrast echocardiography using low mechanical index power modulation technique allows for simultaneous myocardial perfusion and wall motion analysis. RTP-adenosine stress echocardiography (ASE) could be an alternative to dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography; more tolerable for the patients and possibly similarly accurate. We aimed to evaluate RTP-ASE for the detection of myocardial ischaemia, compared to 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: Patients with suspected coronary artery disease, admitted to SPECT evaluation, were prospectively invited to participate. Patients underwent RTP imaging (SONOS 5500) using infusion of Sonovue (Bracco, Milano, Italy) before and during ASE. Two separate readers performed off-line analysis of myocardial perfusion and wall motion by RTP-ASE. A perfusion defect was the principal marker of ischaemia. Wall motion assessment was used to evaluate ischaemia in segments with perfusion artefacts. Each segment was attributed to one of the three main coronary vessel areas of interest: the left anterior descending (LAD); the left circumflex (LCx) and the right posterior descending (RPD). Normal SPECT at stress was judged normal at rest. RESULTS: In 33 patients, 99 coronary territories were analysed by SPECT and RTP-ASE. SPECT showed evidence of ischaemia in 9 of 33 patients. For the detection of ischaemia, the overall level of agreement between RTP-ASE and SPECT was 92% in all segments. The level of agreement was 88% in LAD, 97% in LCx and 91% in RPD segments. CONCLUSION: Real-time perfusion-adenosine stress echocardiography using power modulation could be an accurate and feasible tool for evaluation of ischaemia in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. The results from this study need confirmation by a study of a larger patient sample.     

Effects of ACE inhibitor fosinopril on a 24-h profile of arterial pressure in hypertensive patients with obesity and hypercholesterolemia

AIM: To study effects of fosinopril on a 24-h profile of blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients with obesity and hypercholesterolemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized comparative trial enrolled 96 patients aged 30-50 years with arterial hypertension (AH) of the first and second degree. The patients were randomized into 2 groups by age, gender, AH duration, office AP, body mass index, cholesterol level. The patients of group 1 received fosinopril (monopril) in a single daily dose 10 mg with further rise to 20 mg. The patients of group 2 were given metoprolol twice a day in a dose 25 mg with further rise to 75 mg. Examination of the patients was made before the treatment and after 16 weeks of therapy with fosinopril and metoprolol. RESULTS: A 16-week therapy with fosinopril resulted in lowering of office BP, mean day systolic, diastolic, pulse BP. The profile of SBP improved: the number of "dippers" with an adequate day profile of BP rose. Fosinopril significantly reduced left ventricular myocardial mass (LVMM) and myocardial mass index. Metoprolol had the same hypotensive action but had no effect on mean 24-h pulse and mean BP, LVMM, LVMM index. CONCLUSION: Fosinopril is more effective than metoprolol in relation to a 24-h profile of BP and LVMM reduction.     

腺苷负荷超声心动图诊断冠心病的Meta分析

目的 采用Meta分析评价腺苷负荷超声心动图(ASE)对冠心病的诊断价值.方法 检索1994-2007年国内外公开发表的有关ASE诊断冠心病的文献,按Cochrane协作网推荐的方法进行Meta分析.结果 共纳入12篇文献,ASE对冠心病诊断的敏感性为0.69～0.94,特异性为0.71～1.00.合并灵敏度和特异度分别为0.81 (95%CI 0.77～0.85)、0.83(95%CI 0.78～0.87),合并阳性和阴性似然比分别为4.81(95%CI 3.65～6.33)、0.22(95%CI 0.18～0.28),SROC曲线下面积为0.8968±0.0151.结论 ASE对冠心病具有中等偏高的临床诊断价值.     

Dynamics stress echocardiography for evaluating anti-ischemic drug profiles in post-MI patients

Exercise ECG is an established method of evaluating the anti-ischemic properties of drugs. However, there are considerable methodologic limitations to this procedure and its use is restricted to patients with exercise-provoked ECG alterations which can be interpreted as ischemia. The principal, earlier onset of wall motion abnormalities according to the ischemic cascade can be detected by stress echocardiography and might be utilized as a pharmacological stress testing modality. Sixteen consecutive patients (15 men, one woman; 53 ± 9 years old) with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (8 with one-, 5 with two-, and 3 with three-vessel disease) and exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities were examined by dynamic stress echocardiography (50 watt followed by 20-watt increases/min). Anti-ischemic drugs were withdrawn prior to and on day 1; on the following day 2, 0.2 µg/kg/min nisoldipine was infused intravenously during the test after a 3 µg/kg bolus was given. At maximum comparable workload 15/16 patients showed an improved wall motion score on treatment (day 1: 22.9 ± 4.9 vs day 2: 20.0 ± 3.9; normal score: 12; one-sided binomial test: p = 0.0003). Eight of 16 patients demonstrated ST-segment deviations on day 1 and day 2. The double product did not differ at any workload stage until the maximum of 130 watt (day 1: 14101 ± 3140 vs day 2: 13365 ± 2865; n.s.). Dynamic stress echocardiography seems to be a valuable tool in pharmacologic stress testing and in terms of accuracy is supposed to be superior to conventional exercise ECG. Nisoldipine reduces exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities in patients with and without exercise-induced ECG alterations. The data result from a controlled pilot study, and further studies are required to confirm these promising methodological and therapeutic findings.     

多排螺旋CT评估老年冠心病患者的冠状动脉病变严重性与左心室收缩功能

目的探讨多排螺旋CT（MDCT）在评估老年冠心病中的应用价值。方法选取2018年1月~2020年2月在我院治疗的老年冠心病患者110例,在我院行MDCT、超声心动图及冠状动脉造影（CAG）检查,以CAG为“金标准”,分析MDCT诊断价值,比较MDCT和超声心动图测量左室射血分数（LVEF）、左室舒张末期容积（LVEDV）、左室收缩末期容积（LVESV）、左室心肌质量（LVMM）、左室每搏输出量（LVSV）和左室短轴缩短率（LVFS）差异。结果MDCT诊断灵敏性、特异性、准确性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为93.80%、93.49%、93.73%、97.98%和81.77%;与超声心动图比较,MDCT测量LVEF、LVEDV、LVESV、LVMM、LVSV和LVFS差异无统计学意义（P < 0.05）;MDCT测量,高度狭窄患者LVEF、LVSV和LVFS低于轻度狭窄和中度狭窄患者（P < 0.05）,而LVEDV、LVESV和LVMM高于轻度狭窄和中度狭窄患者（P < 0.05）;Gensini评分与LVEF、LVSV和LVFS呈负相关（r=-0.433、-0.412、-0.422,P < 0.05）,与LVEDV、LVESV和LVMM呈正相关（r=0.410、0.366、0.378,P < 0.05）。结论MDCT在老年冠心病诊断中有较好的价值,其可准确评估左心室功能,与冠状动脉狭窄程度有关。      

Factors influencing the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation after myocardial infarction

The aim of the study was to compare initial clinical, hemodynamic, and vegetative parameters in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) who had undergone physical rehabilitation with different results. The subjects were 106 male patients aged 48.6 +/- 0.95 years undergoing sanatorium rehabilitation after MI. According to the dynamics of exercise tolerance (ET) during the course of treatment, the subjects were divided into three groups: group one consisted of 39 patients with a significant ET growth of more than 10W, group two consisted of 47 patients with no changes in ET or its insignificant growth of less than 10W, and group three consisted of 20 patients with a decrease in ET revealed during a repeated test. In group three patients, the initial EchoCG examination revealed a higher degree of myocardial lesion, which was manifested by lowered ejection fraction and sphericity index, increased end-diastolic volume, and increased degree of left ventricular (LV) asynergy. Furthermore, day-time ventricular extrasystoles were more frequent in these patients; the number of patients with large-focal MI, LV aneurysm, and post-infarction stenocardia was also higher in group three. Correlation and multiple step regression analysis revealed that both initial parameters of vegetative nervous system, data from initial load test, and the EchoCG measurements of the right atrium were associated with the degree of ET growth according to VEM results. The data from the study are able to help individualize rehabilitation of MI patients, especially those with severe myocardial lesion.     

Magnetic resonance tomography of the heart in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The authors provide the results of the use of magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) in examining 20 patients suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP). MRT was made using an apparatus with a field force of 0.23 synchronized with the ECG. The MR-sections were performed both in transverse and inclined planes oriented along the long axis of the left ventricle. MRT made it possible to identify and to assess with a high accuracy asymmetric hypertrophy of the left ventricle myocardium including the cases with apical localization of hypertrophy. Analysis of the data showed a certain decrease of the left ventricle cavity in the systole, dilatation of the left atrium and pronounced hypertrophy of the myocardium (mainly of the interventricular septum). The asymmetry coefficient amounted to 2.1. Correlation of the MRT data and two-dimensional ultrasound cardiography readings demonstrated good comparability of the results obtained with the use of both methods. MRT can be applied in the diagnosis of HCMP in cases where it is difficult to carry out ultrasound cardiography as well as for diagnosis verification provided the results derived with the use of other research methods are inconclusive.     

Normal values of regional left ventricular myocardial thickness,mass and distribution-assessed by 320-detector computed tomography angiography in the Copenhagen General Population Study

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is associated with cardiovascular complications and the geometry is important for prognosis. In some cardiovascular diseases, myocardial hypertrophy or dilation occurs regionally without modifying the global size of the heart. It is therefore relevant to determine regional normal reference values of the left ventricle. The aim of this study was to derive reference values of regional LV myocardial thickness (LVMT) and mass (LVMM) from a healthy study group of the general population using cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We wanted to introduce LV myocardial distribution (LVMD) as a measure of regional variation of the LVMT. Moreover, we wanted to determine whether these parameters varied between men and women. We studied 568 (181 men; 32%) adults, free of cardiovascular disease and risk factors, who underwent 320-detector CCTA. Mean age was 55 (range 40–84) years. Regional LVMT and LVMM were measured, according to the American Heart Association’s 17 segment model, using semi-automatic software. Mean LVMT were 6.6 mm for men and 5.4 mm for women (p?<?0.001). The normal LV was thickest in the basal septum (segment 3; men?=?8.3 mm; women?=?7.2 mm) and thinnest in the mid-ventricular anterior wall (segment 7; men?=?5.6 mm; women?=?4.5 mm) for both men and women. However, the regional LVMD differed between men and women, with the LV being most heterogenic in women. The normal human LV is morphologically heterogenic, and showed same overall pattern but different regional distribution for men and women. This study introduces LVMD and provides gender specific reference values for regional LVMT, LVMM, and LVMD.