Summary
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary cardiac disease characterized by an asymmetrical hypertrophy of the left ventricle, which frequently involves the interventricular septum. The prevalence was evaluated at 1/5,000 and recently re-estimated at 1/500. Hence, this disease would not be rare. The symptoms include dyspnea, syncope, collapse, palpitations, and chest pain. They can be readily provoked by exercise. The disease often leads to a slight-to-moderate invalidation and carries a high incidence of sudden death, usually caused by ventricular tachyarrythmia. HCM is a genetic disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with variable penetrance and variable expressivity. Many genes encoding for sarcomeric proteins including beta-myosin heavy chain, myosin light chain, cardiac troponines T and I, cardiac protein C, alpha-tropomyosin, cardiac actin, and titin were identified to play a role in the etiology of the disease. The management includes medication with beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers; sometimes surgical operation (ventricular myomectomy) is indicated. Cardiac stimulation (pace maker) and septal ablation represent recent management alternatives. The surgical implantation of an automatic defibrillator may prevent the sudden death. Restrictions in the sport activities are recommended in all cases.
Expert reviewer(s)
Last update: January 2005
