The hospitalizations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: “The dark side of the moon”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a myocardial disease characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy not solely explainable by abnormal loading condition [1,2]. Patients with HCM show a different clinical course, ranging from an asymptomatic status, with no adverse events and normal or extended longevity, to a symptomatic condition in which several disease complications can occur [3]. Among HCM patients which experience disease progression, 3 different pathways have been identified: refractory heart failure (HF), requiring surgical myectomy/alcohol ablation (obstructive HCM, OHCM) or heart transplant (non-obstructive HCM, NOHCM); paroxysmal or permanent atrial fibrillation (AF), which may lead to ischemic stroke; life-threatening arrhythmias, leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD) [4].
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research