hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Also known as familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, HCM, hypertrophic heart disease, Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic, HOCM

disease in which the heart muscle is enlarged

Key facts

Other names: Asymmetric septal hypertrophy; idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis; hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
Specialty: Cardiology
Symptoms: Feeling tired, leg swelling , shortness of breath , chest pain , fainting
Complications: Heart failure , irregular heartbeat , sudden cardiac death
Causes: Genetics , Fabry disease , Friedreich's ataxia , amyloidosis , certain medications
Diagnostic method: Electrocardiogram , echocardiogram , stress testing , genetic testing
Differential diagnosis: Hypertensive heart disease , aortic stenosis , athlete's heart
Treatment: Medications, implantable cardiac defibrillator , surgery
Medication: Beta blockers , verapamil , disopyramide
Prognosis: Less than 1% per year risk of death (with treatment)
Frequency

Article

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, or HOCM when obstructive) is a condition in which muscle tissues of the heart become thickened without an obvious cause. The parts of the heart most commonly affected are the interventricular septum and the ventricles. This results in the heart being less able to pump blood effectively and also may cause electrical conduction problems. Specifically affected are the bundle branches that conduct impulses through the interventricular septum and into the Purkinje fibers, as these are responsible for the depolarization of contractile cells of both ventricles.

People who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may have a range of symptoms. People may be asymptomatic, or may have fatigue, leg swelling, and shortness of breath. It may also result in chest pain or fainting. Symptoms may be worse when the person is dehydrated. Complications may include heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, and sudden cardiac death.