Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Care

We provide expert care for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Care

We provide expert care for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition in which a part of the heart muscle thickens. This thickening:

  • May restrict the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body 
  • Can prevent the mitral valve from closing properly 
  • May cause some blood to flow backwards through the valve 

This condition is usually genetic or congenital. Up to 1 in 200 people may have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but many people may not be aware that they have it.

Symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include:

  • Shortness of breath when you are active 
  • Chest pain, especially when you are active 
  • Fatigue 
  • Dizziness 
  • A feeling of fluttering or pounding in the chest 
  • Chest pressure 
  • Swelling in the legs 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease, which means that the symptoms will keep getting worse until it is treated. If you have been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it is important to see a specialist as soon as you can. 

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can lead to: 

  • Extreme fatigue 
  • Atrial fibrillation (AFib) 
  • Heart failure 
  • Increased risk of sudden death 

Treatment Tailored to Your Unique Needs

At the USC Cardiac and Vascular Institute (CVI), our team includes cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and geneticists who are experts in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. They work together to design a custom plan of action for every patient.

If you have obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which means that the muscle growth is blocking the flow of blood through the heart, there are two possible treatments:

  • Alcohol septal ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the thickened tissue to improve blood flow. 
  • A cardiac surgeon may shave down the thickened muscle tissue and repair the heart valve if needed. 

While recovery from open-heart surgery can take several weeks, most patients feel better right away because of the improved blood flow.

Treatment for non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may include:

  • Lifestyle changes, such as a recommended exercise plan 
  • Medication (Clinical trials for new medications may be available.) 
  • Arrhythmia treatment, which may include an implantable medical device 

Since both forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are usually genetic, you and your family may also want to work with our genetic counselors.

What Sets Our Program Apart

Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and genetic counselors all work together at the USC Cardiac and Vascular Institute, which makes it easy to consult with each other.

Our team members have specialized training and expertise in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, including cardiac surgeons, heart-failure and transplant cardiologists, and a world-class imaging specialist.

The surgical procedure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is very rare, so it is difficult to find experienced surgeons who offer it. Because we are an academic medical center with a full hypertrophic cardiomyopathy program, our surgeons are highly experienced and see dozens of cases every year.

We have multiple cardiologists who are certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program. This means they are able to prescribe the only FDA-approved treatments for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Genetic counselors can work with family members of patients to catch early signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We have a direct connection to the Keck Medicine of USC’s heart failure and heart transplant programs for those patients who need it.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Specialties
Pulmonary Critical Care, Pulmonology, Lung Transplant Surgery  View more
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Specialties
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Transplant Surgery  View more