[Dilated form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

To clarify pathological features of dilated form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (d-HCM), 14 autopsied hearts with d-HCM were studied. Prognosis of 23 cases with dHCM confirmed by myocardial biopsy specimens were evaluated. Pathological study revealed marked myocardial fibrosis(14/14), moderate to severe disarray(14/14), fibro-fatty degeneration of the outer layer of the left ventricle(13/14) and sclerosis of the intramural coronary arteries(mild, 5; moderate, 4). Degeneration of LV outer layer is an unique pathology in patients with d-HCM. Prognosis of 23 patients with d-HCM is longer than usually supposed(Ten-year-survival rate from the initial symptoms: 78%).