Left Ventricular Size and Ejection Fraction: Are They Still Relevant?

ABSTRACT

Despite the rapid development of emerging imaging technologies, left ventricular ejection fraction represents the cornerstone of diagnosis, choice of treatment, and prognosis in heart failure. However, true myocardial function often remains underestimated or overestimated in different conditions underlying this heterogeneous syndrome. Changes in left ventricular size and left ventricular ejection fraction, termed reverse remodeling, are among the main goals of treatment in heart failure, aimed at halting or attenuating disease progression. The lack of effective therapeutic approaches in nearly one-half of the heart failure population highlights the need for integrating novel echocardiographic measures to better understand the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms.