A new contingency approach to the ECG diagnostics of left ventricular hypertrophy, its theoretical background, and first results of experimental and clinical studies are presented. This approach considers false negative ECG results as a consequence of the relative voltage deficit and introduces a new parameter: the specific potential of myocardium. As well it considers nonlinear changes of non-spatial determinants with respect to the stage and progression of left ventricular hypertrophy. The potential advantages of the concept of the specific potential of myocardium can be summarized as follows: (1) It utilizes equally both electrocardiographic and echocardiogra- phic information, without stressing the priority or neglecting any of particular methods and creates a broader basis for the clinical diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy, (2) It utilizes also the false negative ECG results for diagnostics and quantifies the relative voltage deficit.

        Key words: left ventricular hypertrophy, electrocardiography, relative voltage deficit, specific potential of myocardium