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Published on: August 8, 2022
Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Normal Genetic Investigations Have Few Affected Relatives
Søren K Nielsen1, Frederikke G Hansen2, Torsten B Rasmussen3
1Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Cardiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
Insights
Family screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in relatives of patients with normal genetic tests revealed a low frequency of new diagnoses. Affected individuals generally had a favorable prognosis, suggesting value in continued screening.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Current guidelines advocate genetic screening for relatives of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) index patients.
- The utility of family screening in HCM cases with normal genetic testing for known genes remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the frequency of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) among relatives of index patients who underwent normal genetic investigations.
- To characterize the clinical presentation and prognosis of relatives diagnosed with HCM through family screening.
Main Methods:
- Clinical and genetic investigations were conducted on relatives of HCM index patients lacking pathogenic variants in known HCM genes.
- Relatives underwent clinical assessments to identify HCM diagnoses and monitor disease progression over time.
Main Results:
- Among 80% of relatives screened, 5% were diagnosed with HCM at baseline, and 0.3% developed it over 5 years.
- The median age of diagnosis was 57 years, with two-thirds identified via family screening.
- Affected relatives showed a favorable prognosis with no adverse complications and a low risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Conclusions:
- Family screening of HCM index patients with normal genetic results identifies affected relatives at a low frequency.
- These identified relatives typically exhibit a favorable clinical course, supporting the value of systematic screening.
Background:
Current guidelines recommend that relatives of index patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are offered clinical investigations to identify individuals at risk of adverse disease complications and sudden cardiac death. However, the value of family screening in relatives of index patients with a normal genetic investigation of recognized HCM genes is largely unknown.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to perform family screening among relatives of HCM index patients with a normal genetic investigation to establish the frequency of familial disease and the clinical characteristics of affected individuals.
Methods:
Clinical and genetic investigations were performed in consecutive and unrelated HCM index patients. Relatives of index patients who did not carry pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in recognized HCM genes were invited for clinical investigations.
Results:
In total, 60% (270 of 453) of HCM index patients had a normal genetic investigation. A total of 80% of their relatives (751 of 938, median age 44 years) participated in the study. Of these, 5% (34 of 751) were diagnosed with HCM at baseline, whereas 0.3% (2 of 717 [751-34]) developed the condition during 5 years of follow-up. Their median age at diagnosis was 57 years (IQR: 51-70 years). Two-thirds (22 of 36) were diagnosed following family screening, whereas one-third (14 of 36) had been diagnosed previously because of cardiac symptoms, a murmur, or an abnormal electrocardiogram. None of the affected relatives experienced adverse disease complications. The risk of SCD was low.
Conclusions:
Systematic family screening of index patients with HCM and normal genetic investigations was associated with a low frequency of affected relatives who appeared to have a favorable prognosis.
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