Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Overview

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder and affects only one or two people in 1,000. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is diagnosed and treated by cardiovascular specialists in collaboration with cardiac (heart) surgeons. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has a special Cardiomyopathy Clinic to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of patients with this condition. More than 2,800 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have been evaluated and treated at Mayo Clinic with about 450 patients seen each year.

Mayo Clinic's team approach to care provides the best evaluation and treatment plan for each hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patient. Specialists from cardiology, cardiac surgery and genetics work together to evaluate each patient and develop the best treatment plan. This team approach is particularly effective in the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a complex disease that can be caused by a variety of gene abnormalities. This physician team is designed to evaluate patients, each exhibiting different symptoms and related health issues. Physicians and nurse educators work closely with each patient and family to provide complete information on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the available treatment options. This team approach also enables patients and their families to receive a full evaluation and treatment plan within several days.

At Mayo Clinic, patients with suspected or confirmed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are evaluated and treated with the following goals in mind:

• Patient and Family Education
  The first priority is patient and family education about the disease. A cardiologist and nurse specialist will discuss appropriate activity levels and how to avoid circumstances that may lead to heart muscle inflammation or other potentially dangerous situations. Important diet and nutrition information is also shared with patients.
  
  In addition, evaluation of family members is important because disease symptoms can occur in many forms. Some family members may be only mildly affected and without symptoms throughout their life but may pass the gene on to their descendants who may be severely affected as children or young adults — including sudden death in young individuals. Mayo Clinic specialists understand these issues and are skilled at evaluating these family implications and can recommend which family members should be evaluated.

• Evaluate Current Health Condition
  Physicians will evaluate each patient's current health condition through an extensive personal and family history and medical tests. If a patient is identified as being at high risk of heart deterioration, sudden death or other complications, immediate steps are taken to reduce these risks.

• Recommend Treatment
  After a detailed patient evaluation and interpretation of laboratory test results, the physician team will develop a treatment plan for each patient to reduce symptoms and decrease stress on the heart. These treatments can include surgical or advanced drug therapies.

Diagnosis

Cardiomyopathy is diagnosed and treated by a team of physicians in cardiovascular diseases, cardiac surgery, genetics, and specialists from other areas as needed. Mayo Clinic has state-of-the-art tests and equipment to aid in the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Read more about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosis.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy depend upon the heart condition and severity of symptoms. Treatment includes medication, surgery or the implant of a pacemaker or automatic defibrillator. Read more about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment options.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota

About Cardiomyopathy

See medical illustrations of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the abnormal thickening of the heart muscle. This thickening interferes with the heart's functions by reducing blood flow into and out of the heart chambers. The disease is also known as Brock's disease, Teare's disease, asymmetrical septal hypertrophy (ASH), idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS), and Muscular subaortic stenosis). See comparison of HCM with normal heart.