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Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia in military pilots

Dan Carter1, Russell Pokroy, Erez Barenboim

  • 1Israel Air Force Aeromedical Center, Military POB 02166, Tel Hashomer, Israel. carterd@zahav.net.il

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|May 9, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) can be incidentally found in young adults. This case series highlights two military aviators with ApHCM and arrhythmias, who continue flying duties with regular cardiac monitoring.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Aerospace Medicine

Background:

  • Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is a variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, often discovered incidentally.
  • Arrhythmias in ApHCM are associated with poor prognosis and sudden cardiac death.

Observation:

  • Two military aviators, a jet weapon system operator and a helicopter pilot, were diagnosed with ApHCM.
  • One aviator experienced asymptomatic non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, while the other had asymptomatic NSVT.

Findings:

  • Both aviators were found to have ApHCM with varying degrees of arrhythmia.
  • Despite the diagnosis, both individuals were cleared for aviation duties.

Implications:

  • This suggests that selected individuals with ApHCM and arrhythmias may continue demanding aviation roles.
  • Regular, thorough cardiac assessment is crucial for monitoring these aviators.
  • Further research is needed to establish clear guidelines for aviators with ApHCM and arrhythmias.

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