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Echocardiographic diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with optison contrast

Jagruti Patel1, Jeremy Michaels, Jennifer Mieres

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Northshore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|October 3, 2002
PubMed

Insights

This case study highlights obstructive apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography proved crucial for diagnosing this condition in a patient with chest pain.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Obstructive apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OAHC) is a variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • Patients may present with symptoms like chest pain syndrome.
  • Electrocardiogram findings can include deep negative T waves.

Observation:

  • A 61-year-old female presented with chest pain and abnormal findings on a stress nuclear perfusion scan.
  • The scan revealed increased radioisotope uptake at the left ventricular (LV) apex.
  • Initial transthoracic echocardiography was suboptimal for LV visualization.

Findings:

  • Intravenous contrast administration (Optison) significantly improved echocardiographic visualization.
  • Contrast-enhanced echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of obstructive apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • The patient exhibited ECG patterns similar to those reported in Japanese populations.

Implications:

  • Contrast-enhanced echocardiography is valuable for diagnosing OAHC when standard imaging is limited.
  • Early diagnosis facilitates genetic testing and comprehensive cardiovascular workup.
  • Understanding ECG patterns associated with OAHC aids in early detection.

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