Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - The Case for Alcohol Ablation Therapy

A b s t r A c t Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disease caused by a variety of mutations in proteins, mostly but not exclusively, of the cardiac sarcomere. It is characterized by hypertrophy of the left ventricle (LV), often with obstruction of the LV outflow tract (LVOT), in the absence of another cause, such as hypertension or aortic stenosis, capable of producing the degree of hypertrophy observed. It presents with markedly variable morphologic and hemodynamic abnormalities and clinical manifestations. The present review will briefly summarize the genetics, pathophysiology, clinical features and management of this disease and will mainly deal with the non-surgical reduction of septal hypertrophy by means of transcoronary alcohol septal ablation.