Sandbox/HCM

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), is a disease state characterized by unexplained LV hypertrophy associated with nondilated ventricular chambers in the absence any underlying disease, or with any degree of hypertrophy in genotypically positive individuals (genotype positive/phenotype negative or subclinical HCM). HCM is caused by autosomal dominant mutations in sarcomere genes which encode components of the contractile apparatus of the heart. The clinical manifestations of HCM individuals depends upon the site and extent of cardiac hypertrophy, having asymptomatic presentation to severe symptoms due to LV outflow obstruction, heart failure, myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, mitral regurgitation or sudden cardiac death. The diagnosis of HCM is made with cardiac imaging (echocardiography or cardiac MRI), showing maximal LV wall thickness ≥ 15 mm in adults or thickness ≥ 2 SD above the mean for age, sex, body size in children and with genetic testing. The management of HCM involves risk stratification to ascertain which patients are at risk for sudden cardiac death, treatment of comorbidities, ICDs for secondary or primary prevention, pharmacological therapy to control heart failure, surgical options for progressive and drug-refractory heart failure to LV outflow obstruction (LVOT) and heart transplantation for systolic dysfunction with severe unrelenting symptoms.

FIRE: Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation

A Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation (FIRE) should be performed to identify patients in need of immediate intervention.

Boxes in red color signify that an urgent management is needed.

Complete Diagnostic Approach to Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

A complete diagnostic approach should be carried out after a focused initial rapid evaluation is conducted and following initiation of any urgent intervention.

Complete Diagnostic Approach to Mitral Regurgitation

A complete diagnostic approach should be carried out after a focused initial rapid evaluation is conducted and following initiation of any urgent intervention.

Abbreviations: EKG: Electrocardiogram; LVOT: Left ventricle outflow tract;

Characterize the symptoms: ❑ Asymptomatic: ❑ Diagnosed as a result of family screening ❑ Diagnosed as a result of detection of a murmur during routine examination ❑ Diagnosed as a result of identification of an abnormal EKG ❑ Fatigue ❑ Dyspnea on exertion: Due to any of the following ❑ Diastolic dysfunction due to myocardial hypertrophy ❑ Impaired left ventricular emptying due to LVOT obstruction ❑ Systolic dysfunction in a patient with more extensive myocardial involvement ❑ Mitral regurgitation ❑ Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (suggestive of heart failure) ❑ Orthopnea (suggestive of heart failure) ❑ Chest pain: Due to any of the following ❑ Increase in myocardial oxygen demand from hypertrophy ❑ Reduction in myocardial blood flow and oxygen supply ❑ Palpitations: Due to any of the following ❑ Atrial fibrillation ❑ Conduction abnormalities ❑ Syncope or pre-syncope: Due to any of the following ❑ LVOT obstruction ❑ Atrial fibrillation ❑ Conduction abnormalities ❑ Myocardial ischemia ❑ Ventricular baroreflex activation ❑ Abdominal distension (suggestive of right heart failure) ❑ Leg swelling (suggestive of right heart failure) ❑ Weakness (suggestive of an embolic event) ❑ Hemoptysis (suggestive of an embolic event)

Obtain a detailed history: ❑ Exercise history: ❑ Athlete's heart ❑ Past medical history: ❑ Cardiac arrest ❑ Ventricular tachycardia ❑ Ischemic heart disease ❑ Cardiomyopathy ❑ Hypertension ❑ Radiation exposure ❑ Collagen vascular disease ❑ Metabolic disorders ❑ Mitochondrial disease ❑ Family history: ❑ Premature sudden death ❑ Unexplained syncope ❑ LV thickness greater than or equal to 30 mm ❑ Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia ❑ Abnormal exercise blood pressure

Examine the patient: Vital signs: ❑ Pulse ❑ Pulsus bisferiens ❑ Irregularly irregular pulse (with onset of AF) ❑ Blood pressure ❑ Normotensive ❑ Respiratory rate ❑ Tachypnea (in case of pulmonary edema) Skin: ❑ Peripheral edema (suggestive of right heart failure) Cardiovascular system: Palpation: ❑ Apical impulse: ❑ Diffuse and forceful LV apical impulse ❑ Parasternal lift (suggestive of significant mitral regurgitation and/or pulmonary hypertension) ❑ Systolic thrill at the apex or lower left sternal border ❑ Carotid pulse may be brisk in upstroke and bifid ❑ Due to the development of midsystolic obstruction to blood flow ❑ Due to partial closure of the aortic valve ❑ Jugular venous pulse ❑ Prominent "a" wave Auscultation: ❑ Heart sounds: ❑ Normal S1 ❑ Paradoxical splitting of S2 (suggestive of severe left ventricular outflow obstruction) ❑ S3 or S4 (common in young patients) ❑ Murmur: ❑ Systolic murmur due to LVOT obstruction: ❑ Harsh crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur that begins slightly after S1 ❑ Similar to that of valvular aortic stenosis and subvalvular aortic stenosis ❑ Loudest at the left parasternal edge, 4th intercostal space, rather than in the aortic area ❑ Increases in intensity with the assumption of an upright posture from sitting or supine position and the Valsalva maneuver ❑ Decreases in intensity after going from a standing to a sitting or squatting position, with handgrip, and passive elevation of the legs ❑ Systolic murmur due to MR: ❑ Due to a combination of LV upper septal hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve ❑ Starts after S1 and continues up to and sometime beyond and obscuring A2 ❑ Holosystolic murmur heard loudest at the apex which radiates to the axilla ❑ Early diastolic murmur (due to large diastolic flow across severe MR) ❑ Mid systolic click (suggestive of mitral valve prolapse) Respiratory system: ❑ Crackles or rales (suggestive of pulmonary edema) ❑ Tachypnea Abdominal system: ❑ Hepatojugular reflex ❑ Hepatomegaly ❑ Ascites Neurological system: ❑ Stroke (in case of thromboembolism)

References

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