13th International Congress
THE "NEW FRONTIERS"
OF ARRHYTHMIAS 1998

January 24-31, 1998
Marilleva, Trento, Italy

RT-29

Critical evaluation of risk factor stratification and treatment for the prevention of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

William J. McKenna, Perry M. Elliott.
Department of Cardiological Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK

Introduction

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary heart muscle disorder caused, in the majority of cases, by mutations in genes encoding cardiac sarcomeric proteins¹. Its complex and varied pathophysiology includes myocardial hypertrophy, myocyte disarray, interstitial fibrosis, myocardial ischaemia, diastolic dysfunction, and abnormal peripheral vascular responses. Although its most important complication, sudden death, was first recognised by Donald Teare in the 1950's², the identification and treatment of patients at risk of dying suddenly remains an area of controversy.