National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Left ventricular noncompaction


Other Names:
LVNC; Spongy myocardium; Left ventricular hypertrabeculation
Categories:
Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare heart condition. In LVNC the inside wall of the heart is spongy or grooved, instead of smooth. Signs and symptoms of LVNC vary, but may cause life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms and weakness of the heart muscle. Treatments, such as blood thinning medication and defibrillators, are available to control these heart symptoms. In rare cases, heart transplantation is needed.[1]
Last updated: 12/29/2013

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

There are no specific treatment guidelines for left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). Medical management varies depending on clinical manifestations, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the presence or absence of arrhythmias, and the risk of thromboembolism.

Depending on the above factors, treatment might include: medications including diuretics, ACE inhibitors or Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs), anticoagulants, and beta-blockers; an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or a pacemaker if an arrhythmia is present; and cardiac transplantation.[2][3][4]
Last updated: 5/26/2016

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Left ventricular noncompaction. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

General Information

  • The Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation has a Web page on cardiomyopathy, which includes information on left ventricular noncompaction. Click on Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation to view the page.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Left ventricular noncompaction. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My daughter was recently diagnosed. She is in her twenties. Is left ventricular noncompaction very difficult to diagnose? See answer


  1. Left ventricular noncompaction. Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease. http:/familyheart.stanford.edu/clinics/noncomp1.html. Accessed 12/27/2013.
  2. Heidi M Connolly, Christine H Attenhofer-Jost. Isolated left ventricular noncompaction. UpToDate. April 2016; http://www.uptodate.com/contents/isolated-left-ventricular-noncompaction#H19.
  3. Treatment. CardiomyopathyUK. http://www.cardiomyopathy.org/left-ventricular-noncompaction/treatment-7. Accessed 5/26/2016.
  4. Bennett CE, Freudenberger R. The Current Approach to Diagnosis and Management of Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy: Review of the Literature. Cardiology Research and Practice.. Jan 2016; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737020.