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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Investigating the Pathogenesis of MYH7 Mutation Gly823Glu in Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy using a Mouse Model
Published on: August 8, 2022
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
1The Heart Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. Jeffrey.towbin@cchmc.org
Insights
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited heart disorder. Childhood HCM presents with varied etiologies, influencing diagnosis and outcomes differently than adult forms.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a prevalent inherited cardiac disorder affecting 1 in 500 young adults.
- It is characterized by significant myocardial wall thickening.
- HCM is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical impacts of inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- To discuss underlying etiologies and diverse clinical presentations.
- To differentiate childhood and adult forms of HCM based on literature and clinical experience.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and clinical experience synthesis.
- Analysis of morphologic, functional, and clinical features.
- Comparison of disease presentation across different age groups.
Main Results:
- In infants (<1 year), hypertrophy with systolic dysfunction is common.
- In young adults, HCM prevalence is 0.2%, often with diastolic dysfunction.
- Childhood HCM can present with overlapping disorders, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusions:
- Childhood hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) arises from diverse etiologies.
- These varied causes impact diagnostic approaches.
- Etiologies significantly influence treatment strategies and patient outcomes in pediatric HCM.
Background:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common inherited cardiac disorders, with a prevalence in young adults of one in 500 and is defined by its wall thickening.
Methods:
This chapter of the supplement will present major clinical impacts of this disorder in its predilection to be inherited; its reputation as the most common cause of sudden death in young, healthy, athletic individuals; and its potential to develop heart failure due to either diastolic or systolic dysfunction, so-called "burned out" HCM. Underlying etiologies; diversity of morphologic, functional, and clinical features; and variable age of onset that differentiate the childhood from the adult form of disease will be discussed based on the literature and clinical experience.
Results:
In children less than 1 year of age, hypertrophy associated with systolic dysfunction is common. In contradistinction, among apparently healthy young adults, the prevalence of echcocardiographically defined HCM was reported to be as high as 0.2% and associated with diastolic dysfunction. In addition, overlaping disorders such as infiltrative and energy-dependent forms of HCM coexist with other atypical features in childhood, further confounding the presentations, treatments, and outcomes compared to adult disease.
Conclusion:
HCM in childhood has a variety of etiologies which may influence diagnostic testing, treatments, and outcomes.
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