Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM/HOCM) is characterized by thickening of heart walls with no cause clinically. This can results in poor capability of the heart for pumping of blood forward to the body.
It is a genetic disease.
Symptoms
Child can be asymptomatic or may have symptoms like
- Easy fatigue, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, fainting attacks, difficulty in breathing due to heart failure etc.
- Child can be prone for sudden cardiac arrest as well.
Diagnosis
- ECG
- Echocardiogram of the child
- Cardiac MRI
- Genetic testing should also be done for confirmation.
- Sometimes, stress testing is also advised.
- Rarely cardiac catheterization
Treatment
- Drugs like beta blockers, diuretics, disopyramide etc
- If prone for cardiac arrest then automated implantable cardiac defibrillator(AICD) is advised for abnormal heart beats and rhythm
- Alcohol septal ablation
- Surgery can be done in the form of excessive muscle resection (septal myomectomy) and in later stages; the only option left is transplant of the heart.
Prognosis
HCM is having annual mortality of approximately 1% per year.