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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
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Morphological and Functional Assessment of the Right Ventricle Using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: clinical and two-dimensional echocardiographic assessment
Annals of Internal Medicine
|May 1, 1987
Summary
Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare, nonobstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This study found it uncommon in a North American population, with distinct features from previously described Japanese cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart muscle disease.
- Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHC) is a morphologic variant.
- Previous studies primarily described AHC in Japanese populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of AHC in a North American cohort.
- To compare AHC findings in a North American population with those previously reported in Japanese patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 965 patients with HCM evaluated by echocardiography.
- Analysis of morphologic features, clinical presentation, and electrocardiographic findings.
Main Results:
- Only 23 patients (2%) had nonobstructive AHC, with predominant apical wall thickening.
- Patients were predominantly male (mean age 37 years) and white.
- Fifteen patients experienced functional limitations, mainly exertional dyspnea and fatigue.
- Only 3 patients exhibited AHC morphology similar to Japanese descriptions; 2 had giant negative T waves.
Conclusions:
- Nonobstructive AHC is uncommon in this North American HCM population.
- The morphologic and clinical features of AHC in this cohort differed from those previously reported in Japanese patients.
- Apical hypertrophy predominantly in the distal left ventricle is rare in North American patients with HCM.
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