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Hypertrophy is a medical term for enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or a body part due to an increase in the size of its cells. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), then, refers to such enlargement of the left pumping chamber of the heart. It results in thickening of the wall of that chamber.

There are several possible causes of LVH, the most common of which is high blood pressure over a substantial period of time. Obstruction to the flow of blood from the left ventricle due to narrowing of the aortic valve is another cause. Less commonly, LVH results from a genetic abnormality that leads to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM), a disease that can enlarge all or part of the heart muscle.

Treatment of LVH is directed at correcting the underlying cause, if possible. In the case of hypertension, early, adequate and sustained control of elevated blood pressure is of prime importance in preventing progression and possibly reversing the problem. Surgical repair or replacement of a narrowed aortic valve can provide benefit in cases of valve disorder.