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Published on: October 20, 2023
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with aortic dilation: a novel observation
Rayan Yousefzai1, Anushree Agarwal1, M Fuad Jan1
1Aurora Cardiovascular Services, Aurora Sinai/Aurora St. Luke's Medical Centers, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 2801 W. Kinnickinnic River Parkway, Ste. 840, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Insights
This study found that 9.0% of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) also have aortic dilation. This highlights a potential link between these two cardiovascular conditions that warrants further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiovascular disease.
- Aortic dilation is a condition that can run in families.
- Data on the prevalence of aortic dilation in HCM patients is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of aortic dilation in patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- To investigate the association between aortic dilation and HCM.
Main Methods:
- Observational retrospective study.
- Included 201 patients referred to an HCM center between January 2011 and March 2014.
- Aortic dilation defined using American Society of Echocardiography and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines.
Main Results:
- 18 out of 201 (9.0%) HCM patients met the criteria for aortic dilation.
- Patients with aortic dilation were more likely to be male, less likely to be hypertensive, and had larger left ventricle diameter and more aortic valve regurgitation.
- Mean ascending aorta diameter was 4.0 cm in males and 3.8 cm in females; mean sinuses of Valsalva diameter was 4.2 cm in males and 3.8 cm in females.
Conclusions:
- A novel observation of 9.0% prevalence of aortic dilation in HCM patients is reported.
- Further research is needed to understand the genetic and pathophysiological basis of this association.
- Clinical implications of aortic dilation in HCM patients require further study in larger cohorts.
Aims:
Our goal was to identify the prevalence of aortic dilation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most prevalent (0.2%) heritable, genetic cardiovascular disease. Aortic dilation also represents a spectrum of familial inheritance. However, data regarding the prevalence of aortic dilation in HCM patients is lacking.
Methods And Results:
This is an observational retrospective study of all patients referred to our HCM centre. Aortic dilation was defined based on recent American Society of Echocardiography and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging published guidelines. Of the 201 HCM patients seen between Jan. 1, 2011 and March 31, 2014, 18 (9.0%) met the definition of aortic dilation. Mean age was 56.3 ± 9.3 years, 77.8% were male, mean ascending aorta diameter was 4.0 ± 0.4 cm in males and 3.8 ± 0.2 cm in females, mean sinuses of Valsalva diameter was 4.2 ± 0.2 cm in males and 3.8 ± 0.4 cm in females, and 13 (72.2%) had left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. HCM patients with dilated aorta were more likely males, less likely hypertensive and had larger left ventricle diameter and more aortic valve regurgitation; remaining characteristics were similar.
Conclusion:
We report a novel observation with 9.0% prevalance of dilated aorta in HCM patients. Further studies are needed to help define the genetic and pathophysiologic basis as well as the clinical implications of this association in a larger group of HCM patients.
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