Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is a form of ventricular hypertrophy

Ventricular hypertrophy

Ventricular hypertrophy is the enlargement of ventricles in the heart. Although left ventricular hypertrophy is more common, enlargement can also occur in the right ventricle, or both ventricles.- Physiology :...

 affecting the right ventricle

Right ventricle

The right ventricle is one of four chambers in the human heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium via the tricuspid valve, and pumps it into the pulmonary artery via the pulmonary valve and pulmonary trunk....

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Blood travels through the right ventricle to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries. If conditions occur which decrease pulmonary circulation

Pulmonary circulation

Pulmonary circulation is the half portion of the cardiovascular system which carries Oxygen-depleted Blood away from the heart, to the Lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart. Encyclopedic description and discovery of the pulmonary circulation is widely attributed to Doctor Ibn...

, meaning blood does not flow well from the heart to the lungs, extra stress can be placed on the right ventricle. This can lead to right ventricular hypertrophy.

It can affect ECG findings. An ECG with right ventricular hypertrophy shows a right axis deviation

Right axis deviation

Right Axis Deviation is a congenital heart condition wherein the electrical conduction of the heart is greater than +105 degrees. Between +90 degrees and +180 degrees the condition may be termed Indeterminate Deviation or more often Extreme Right Axis Deviation...

 on the ECG.

Causes

Common causes include:

• Pulmonary hypertension
  Pulmonary hypertension
  In medicine, pulmonary hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary capillaries, together known as the lung vasculature, leading to shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms, all of which are exacerbated by exertion...
  
  
• Tetralogy of Fallot
  Tetralogy of Fallot
  Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect which is classically understood to involve four anatomical abnormalities...
  
  
• Pulmonary valve stenosis
  Pulmonary valve stenosis
  Pulmonary valve stenosis is a heart valve disorder in which outflow of blood from the right ventricle of the heart is obstructed at the level of the pulmonic valve. This results in the reduction of flow of blood to the lungs. Valvular pulmonic stenosis accounts for 80% of right ventricular outflow...
  
  
• Ventricular septal defect
  Ventricular septal defect
  A ventricular septal defect is a defect in the ventricular septum, the wall dividing the left and right ventricles of the heart.The ventricular septum consists of an inferior muscular and superior membranous portion and is extensively innervated with conducting cardiomyocytes.The membranous...
  
   (VSD)
• High altitude
  Effects of high altitude on humans
  The effects of high altitude on humans are considerable. The percentage saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen determines the content of oxygen in our blood. After the human body reaches around 2,100 m above sea level, the saturation of oxyhemoglobin begins to plummet...
  
  
• Cardiac fibrosis
  Cardiac fibrosis
  Cardiac fibrosis refers to an abnormal thickening of the heart valves due to inappropriate proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts.Fibrocyte cells normally secrete collagen, and function to provide structural support for the heart...
  
  
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , also known as chronic obstructive lung disease , chronic obstructive airway disease , chronic airflow limitation and chronic obstructive respiratory disease , is the co-occurrence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of commonly co-existing diseases...
  
   (COPD)
• Athletic heart syndrome
  Athletic heart syndrome
  Athletic heart syndrome, also known as athlete's heart or athletic bradycardia, is a medical syndrome in which the human heart is enlarged due to significant amounts of exercise...