Contributor: Nick Hawkes

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic condition characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy often with a wall thickness of greater than or equal to 15mm. it often disproportionately affects the septum and can lead to development of left ventricular outflow obstruction (LVOTO). Myectomy is a targeted surgical reduction in LV mass — thereby reducing LVOTO. Nijenkamp et al analyzed samples obtained during myectomy as well as pre-myectomy echocardiographic markers of diastolic dysfunction in 71 HCM patients. The authors also compared control myocardium to HCM. In this study, female HCM patients presented later, had a higher degree of diastolic dysfunction, a higher amount of fibrosis, more compliant titin, and greater septal thickness when indexed to body surface area (IVSi) compared to males.