[Ultrastructural study of 11 cases of obstructive myocardiography of the left ventricle]

A fragment of septum was removed for biopsy in 11 patients with obstructive cardiomyopathy who were undergoing surgery. Electron microscopi revealed an increase in the numbers of mitochondria, deposits of glycogen, and deforming fibrosis. As far as the components of muscle fibres are concerned, both lysis and synthesis of neosarcomeres are to be found, together with abnormalities of the Z band and disorientation of the myofibrils. The number and severity of these abnormalities were found to vary from patient to patient and also in different sections. Although these features are virtually constant in cases of obstructive cardiomyopathy, they are not specific for this condition; they are also found in cases of non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.