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Published on: June 20, 2014
An autopsy case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with pathological findings suggesting chronic myocarditis
1Research Laboratory for Cardiovascular Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
This case study highlights myocardial fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). An undefined inflammatory process may contribute to fibrosis, beyond coronary artery issues.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition where the heart muscle thickens.
- Myocardial fibrosis, the scarring of heart tissue, is implicated in HCM's impact on left ventricular function and dimensions.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman with HCM underwent surgery for interventricular septum myectomy.
- The resected tissue showed significant round cell infiltration, myocardial fibrosis, and disarray.
- The patient later experienced congestive heart failure and died of renal failure.
Findings:
- Autopsy revealed extensive myocardial fibrosis and significant lymphocyte infiltration in the ventricular myocardium.
- The CD4 to CD8 lymphocyte ratio was 3.8, differing from typical viral myocarditis.
- This suggests an inflammatory process contributing to fibrosis in HCM.
Implications:
- The findings suggest an undefined inflammatory process may cause fibrosis in HCM.
- This is in addition to potential ischemia from small coronary artery stenosis.
- Further research into inflammatory pathways in HCM is warranted.
Abstract:
Myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may play an important role in the function and/or dimensions of the left ventricle. We present an autopsied case of HCM followed for 10 years. A 68-year-woman with HCM underwent trans-aortic myectomy of the interventricular septum in 1979. A significant amount of round cell infiltration, myocardial fibrosis and disarray were observed in the resected specimen. She experienced repeated admissions due to diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure, and died of renal failure in 1989. An autopsy revealed extensive myocardial fibrosis and significant cell infiltration in the ventricular myocardium. The infiltrating cells were almost all lymphocytes, and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 was 3.8. This ratio was different from that of typical viral myocarditis. This case suggests that there may be an undefined inflammatory process causing fibrosis in HCM, in addition to the ischemia due to intramural small coronary artery stenosis.
Related Concept Videos
Myocarditis I: Introduction
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care

