Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Causes

Although specific causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are not yet fully known, the primary cause seems to be genetic. Nongenetic causes may also influence who will develop this disease.

It has been shown that about 50 percent of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will have a first-degree relative who also has the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This has important implications for screening of relatives as well as planning for families of patients with a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Other nongenetic influences may play a part in determining who will and who will not develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy appears to occur equally in men and women.