Types of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex cardiovascular condition characterized by an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle in the absence of other causative diseases. This common genetic disorder affects about 1 in 500 individuals worldwide according to recent data. The three distinct types of HCM are asymmetric septal hypertrophy, concentric hypertrophy, and apical hypertrophy.

Echocardiography plays a vital role in diagnosing and managing patients hypertrophic cardiomyopathy through strategic use of 2D, Color, and Doppler. Key measurements should include left ventricular wall thickness, end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions, diastolic function, LVOT interrogation, and strain imaging. Ultrasound enhancing agents can opacify endocardial definition and rule out apical aneurysms or thrombi.

Evaluating LVOT obstruction in patients with HCM is a critical component of the echocardiographic assessment. Dynamic narrowing of the outflow tract is caused by hypertrophied myocardial tissue and the systolic motion of the anterior mitral leaflet. Pulsed-wave Doppler is used to locate the point of obstruction and continuous wave Doppler measures the peak velocity across the entire scan line.