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Published on: June 14, 2016
[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: spontaneous course]
1Universitätsspital Bern, Departement Innere Medizin, Bern.
Insights
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart muscle disease, involves left ventricular hypertrophy. Certain gene mutations and ventricular tachycardia with syncope indicate a poor prognosis, influencing sudden cardiac death risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Pathology
Context:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary myocardial disorder with autosomal inheritance.
- It is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and myocyte disarray.
- Prevalence is approximately 0.2%.
Purpose:
- To describe the genetic basis and prognostic factors of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- To highlight the implications of beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain gene mutations.
- To identify risk factors for sudden cardiac death and progressive dysfunction.
Summary:
- HCM involves asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy due to genetic mutations, primarily in the beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain gene.
- Annual mortality is 3%, linked to sudden cardiac death and systolic dysfunction.
- Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia with syncope is a significant poor prognostic indicator.
Impact:
- Understanding genetic mutations and prognostic factors aids in risk stratification for HCM patients.
- Early identification of high-risk individuals can guide preventative strategies.
- This research informs clinical management and genetic counseling for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Abstract:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a relatively rare (prevalence approximately 0.2%), primary myocardial disorder with an autosomal pattern of inheritance, characterized by mostly asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy with myocyte and myofibrillar disarray. To date, about 34 mutations of the beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain gene have been described and shown to have prognostic implications. The disease has an annual mortality rate of 3%, related to both sudden cardiac death and progressive systolic dysfunction. Not only diastolic but also progressive systolic dysfunction with cavity dilatation occurs in a minority of patients with severe hypertrophy during the long-term course. Sudden death often occurs in young, asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients. The degree of hypertrophy and the presence of a pressure gradient are of little prognostic significance. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia is associated with a poor prognosis in the presence of a history of syncope.
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