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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HCM or HOCM, is a disease of the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied (thickened) without any obvious cause.It is perhaps most well-known as a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.The occurrence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a significant cause of sudden unexpected cardiac death in any age group and as a cause of disabling cardiac symptoms.HCM is frequently asymptomatic until sudden cardiac death, and for this reason some suggest routinely screening certain populations for this disease.

A cardiomyopathy is a primary disease that affects the muscle of the heart. With hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the sarcomeres (contractile elements) in the heart replicate causing heart muscle cells to increase in size and so the heart muscle to thicken. In addition, the normal alignment of muscle cells is disrupted, a phenomenon known as myocardial disarray. HCM also causes disruptions of the electrical functions of the heart. HCM is most commonly due to a mutation in one of 9 sarcomeric genes that results in a mutated protein in the sarcomere, the primary component of the myocyte (the muscle cell of the heart).While most literature so far focuses on European, American, and Japanese populations, HCM appears in all racial groups. The incidence of HCM is about 0.2% to 0.5% of the general population.

Stiffness in the left ventricle occurs as a result of cellular changes that occur in the heart muscle when it thickens. The left ventricle is unable to relax normally and fill with blood. Since there is less blood at the end of filling, there is less oxygen-rich blood pumped to the organs and muscles. The stiffness in the left ventricle causes pressure to increase inside the heart and may lead to the symptoms described below.

Mitral valve changes: The narrowing of the left ventricular outflow tract disrupts the proper function of the mitral valve, resulting in outflow obstruction and increased pressure in the left ventricle.

The obstruction is the result of the mitral valve striking the septum. When this occurs, the mitral valve frequently leaks, causing the blood to go back into the left atrium.

Stiffness in the left ventricle occurs as a result of cellular changes that occur in the heart muscle when it thickens. The left ventricle is unable to relax normally and fill with blood. Since there is less blood at the end of filling, there is less oxygen-rich blood pumped to the organs and muscles. The stiffness in the left ventricle causes pressure to increase inside the heart and may lead to the symptoms described below.

Mitral valve changes: The narrowing of the left ventricular outflow tract disrupts the proper function of the mitral valve, resulting in outflow obstruction and increased pressure in the left ventricle.

The obstruction is the result of the mitral valve striking the septum. When this occurs, the mitral valve frequently leaks, causing the blood to go back into the left atrium.