[Syndrome of high-altitude hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

The authors report the clinical, ECG, PCG and echocardiography data obtained in mountaineers suffering from associated essential hypertension and high-altitude pulmonary hypertension. Demonstrate the advisability of distinguishing the high-altitude hypertrophic cardiomyopathy syndrome (HHCS) in part of mountaineers with essential hypertension living permanently at an altitude of 3600-4200 m over the sea level. The HHCS is marked by a lot of the clinical and echocardiographic signs which are regarded as characteristic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, particularly by appreciable asymmetrical hypertrophy of the interventricular septum. Criteria for the differential diagnosis between the HHCS and idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis are suggested. The possible mechanisms by which the HHCS develops in part of mountaineers are discussed.