BACKGROUND: Non compaction cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder caused by the 
arrest of myocardial compaction during embryogenesis, leading to a non compacted 
endocardial layer with marked hypertrabeculation and deep recesses.
AIM: To report the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of a series of 
15 adult patients with non-compaction cardiomyopathy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included a total of 15 patients aged 52 ± 17 years (40% 
males) diagnosed at our echocardiography laboratory between January 2001 and 
July 2010.
RESULTS: The form of presentation was heart failure in 53% of subjects, syncope 
in 20%o, ventricular arrhythmias in 13%o and stroke in 7%>. Left ventricular 
end-diastolic diameter was 66 ± 11 mm and estimated ejection fraction was 27 ± 
10%>. Apical and/or mid-ventricular segments of the left ventricle were involved 
in all the cases. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 40%o. The average 
follow-up was 19 months and no patient died during this period. Sixty seven 
percent of the patients had manifestations of heart failure, 27%o presented 
sustained ventricular arrhythmias and 20%> had atrial fibrillation or flutter, 
whereas 13%o had cerebral embolic events. An automated internal cardioverter 
defibrillator was implanted in 47%o of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Non-compaction cardiomyopathy is associated with high 
cardiovascular morbidity. The diagnosis is made in advanced stages of the 
disease, with significant dilation and ventricular dysfunction.