Posted below is simply an abstract not the complete article. I suspect that this will create a bit of concern for some of you and some additional thought to your treatment plan may be in order. Please note that this is refering to those with gradients of 30mm or greater at rest. This may support the idea that reducing gradient is beneficial and may suggest that earlier intervention can be concidered in selected patients. forward note by Lisa
Effect of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction on Clinical Outcome in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Martin S. Maron, M.D., Iacopo Olivotto, M.D., Sandro Betocchi, M.D., Susan A. Casey, R.N., John R. Lesser, M.D., Maria A. Losi, M.D., Franco Cecchi, M.D., and Barry J. Maron, M.D.
Cardiomyopathy/Myocarditis
Heart Failure
Related Chapters at Harrison's Online
ABSTRACT
Background The influence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction on the clinical outcome of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy remains unresolved.
Methods We assessed the effect of outflow tract obstruction on morbidity and mortality in a large cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who were followed for a mean (±SD) of 6.3±6.2 years.
Results Of the 1101 consecutive patients, 273 (25 percent) had obstruction of left ventricular outflow under basal (resting) conditions with a peak instantaneous gradient of at least 30 mm Hg. A total of 127 patients (12 percent) died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and 216 surviving patients (20 percent) had severe, disabling symptoms of progressive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class III or IV). The overall probability of death related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was significantly greater among patients with outflow tract obstruction than among those without obstruction (relative risk, 2.0; P=0.001). The risk of progression to NYHA class III or IV or death specifically from heart failure or stroke was also greater among patients with obstruction (relative risk, 4.4; P<0.001), particularly among patients 40 years of age or older (P<0.001). Age-adjusted multivariate analysis confirmed that outflow tract obstruction was independently associated with an increased risk of both death related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (relative risk, 1.6; P=0.02) and progression to NYHA class III or IV or death from heart failure or stroke (relative risk, 2.7; P<0.001). The likelihood of severe symptoms and death related to outflow tract obstruction did not increase as the gradient increased above the threshold of 30 mm Hg.
Conclusions In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction at rest is a strong, independent predictor of progression to severe symptoms of heart failure and of death.
Source Information
From the Division of Cardiology, Tufts–New England Medical Center, Boston (M.S.M.); the Regional Referral Center for Myocardial Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence, Italy (I.O., F.C.); the Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy (S.B., M.A.L.); and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis (S.A.C., J.R.L., B.J.M.).
Address reprint requests to Dr. Barry Maron at the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, 920 E. 28th St., Suite 60, Minneapolis, MN 55407, or at [email protected].
Effect of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction on Clinical Outcome in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Martin S. Maron, M.D., Iacopo Olivotto, M.D., Sandro Betocchi, M.D., Susan A. Casey, R.N., John R. Lesser, M.D., Maria A. Losi, M.D., Franco Cecchi, M.D., and Barry J. Maron, M.D.
Cardiomyopathy/Myocarditis
Heart Failure
Related Chapters at Harrison's Online
ABSTRACT
Background The influence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction on the clinical outcome of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy remains unresolved.
Methods We assessed the effect of outflow tract obstruction on morbidity and mortality in a large cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who were followed for a mean (±SD) of 6.3±6.2 years.
Results Of the 1101 consecutive patients, 273 (25 percent) had obstruction of left ventricular outflow under basal (resting) conditions with a peak instantaneous gradient of at least 30 mm Hg. A total of 127 patients (12 percent) died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and 216 surviving patients (20 percent) had severe, disabling symptoms of progressive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class III or IV). The overall probability of death related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was significantly greater among patients with outflow tract obstruction than among those without obstruction (relative risk, 2.0; P=0.001). The risk of progression to NYHA class III or IV or death specifically from heart failure or stroke was also greater among patients with obstruction (relative risk, 4.4; P<0.001), particularly among patients 40 years of age or older (P<0.001). Age-adjusted multivariate analysis confirmed that outflow tract obstruction was independently associated with an increased risk of both death related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (relative risk, 1.6; P=0.02) and progression to NYHA class III or IV or death from heart failure or stroke (relative risk, 2.7; P<0.001). The likelihood of severe symptoms and death related to outflow tract obstruction did not increase as the gradient increased above the threshold of 30 mm Hg.
Conclusions In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction at rest is a strong, independent predictor of progression to severe symptoms of heart failure and of death.
Source Information
From the Division of Cardiology, Tufts–New England Medical Center, Boston (M.S.M.); the Regional Referral Center for Myocardial Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence, Italy (I.O., F.C.); the Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy (S.B., M.A.L.); and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis (S.A.C., J.R.L., B.J.M.).
Address reprint requests to Dr. Barry Maron at the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, 920 E. 28th St., Suite 60, Minneapolis, MN 55407, or at [email protected].
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