Diagnosis and Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

A unique, multi-authored compendium of information (edited by Dr. Barry J. Maron) regarding the complexities of clinical and genetic diagnosis, natural history and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - - - the most common and important of the genetic cardiovascular diseases, as well as related issues impacting the health of trained athletes. The contributions are from all of the international experts in this field.

Major purpose

To provide a single comprehensive source of information, including differing viewpoints, concerning HCM as well as cardiovascular disease in athletes - - - for clinical and research cardiologists, primary care physicians, and basic scientists, and written and assembled by all the experts in the field.

3 features

1. The book literally includes the contributions of all experts in the field and therefore can be regarded as truly comprehensive, taking into account sometimes diverse viewpoints regarding this heterogeneous disease (i.e., HCM) and related issues in athletes.

2. There is no other available source that comes remotely close...so it is a novel undertaking.

3. Because there is so much misunderstanding regarding the aforementioned issues in the physician community...and because these are not clinical problems necessarily encountered on a daily basis by most practicing physicians...this book becomes a particularly important source to interested parties - - - i.e., information they may not be able to assemble easily in any other way.

Recent advances of note

1. Use of implantable defibrillator in HCM for prevention of sudden death in young people.

2. Introduction of catheter-based alcohol septal ablation to reduce obstruction and symptoms as a treatment alternative to surgery for some HCM patients.

3. Definition of the genetic basis for HCM and its role in clinical diagnosis and risk stratification.

4. Development of more precise strategies for assessing the level of risk for sudden death among all patients with HCM.

5. More precise definition of the relatively high frequency with which HCM occurs in the general population.

Special emphasis

All of the above, plus: the septal myectomy operation remains the gold standard for the severely symptomatic patient with obstruction, refractory to medications.