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Heart Failure Care
The physician's practice of UT Health San Antonio's cardiology practice is South Texas’ resource for complete hypertrophic cardiomyopathy care. We provide patients and families with education, guidance and care for managing their condition throughout their lifetime.
Related to: HCM, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, IHSS, cardiomyopathy care
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiovascular disease, affecting men and women of all ages. It is a complex cardiac disease marked by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle. Our Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy team consists of expert cardiac physicians who diagnose and treat patients. Our dedicated practice is extensively trained in examining patients to determine the type of disease and amount to develop the most effective treatment plan for relieving symptoms.
The majority of patients with HCM can be treated with medications alone. For patients whose symptoms are not relieved with medication, interventional options such as surgery, pacemaker implantation or alcohol septal ablation may be advised. We also teach other physicians how to manage patients during non-cardiac surgery and pregnancy.
Make an appointment
Please call 210-450-4888 for more information or to make an appointment.
Symptoms
What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiovascular disease, affecting men and women of all ages. It is a complex cardiac disease marked by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle.
Because HCM is a genetic disease, it does not affect everyone the same way. Symptoms range from no symptoms at all, to congestive heart failure, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, chest pressure or pain, fainting, stroke and even sudden cardiac death. HCM is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
What are the symptoms associated with HCM?
- Chest pain usually occurs with exertion however may occur with rest or after meals.
- Heart failure symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue, especially with exertion, is most likely due to a backup of fluid into the lungs.
- Syncope, passing out or fainting is seen with about 15 to 25 percent of patients with HCM. It may be secondary to irregular heart rhythms, abnormal responses during exercise, or no cause may be found.
- Palpitations are a common symptom in patients with HCM. This sensation of fluttering in the chest is most likely due to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
- A small number of patients with HCM are at risk for sudden death.
Diagnosis
How is HCM diagnosed?
A comprehensive medical history and thorough physical exam is required. Afterward specific tests help to determine an accurate diagnosis. One test is a 2-D echocardiogram or TTE. With this imaging technology, segments of the heart muscle can be visualized and compared for asymmetry, obstruction and other abnormalities. Another diagnostic test is an electrocardiogram (ECG). The majority of patients with HCM will have an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG).
Treatment
How is HCM treated?
The majority of patients with HCM can be treated with medications alone. For patients whose symptoms are not relieved with medication, surgical correction or alcohol septal ablation may be recommended. Implantable cardiac defibrillators (AICD) are used in preventing sudden cardiac death. The risk of sudden cardiac death ranges from 1-5 percent per year. These at risk patients can be identified by their medical history and symptoms reported to their doctor.
Alcohol septal ablation is a special heart catheterization procedure in which an alcohol solution is injected directly into a small branch of the coronary (heart) arteries. This causes a localized heart attack in the overgrown heart muscle responsible for the symptoms of HCM. As a result, the muscle size is reduced. This new treatment can be helpful to patients with HCM.
Causes
What causes HCM?
- Abnormalities in genes that control muscle development are affected.
- In HCM, the arrangement and pattern of cardiac cells that develop the muscle is abnormal.
- This abnormal pattern is the cause for continued abnormal growth and potentially lethal arrhythmias.
- When a gene defect is present, the symptoms patients have will vary in each family.