Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with latent obstruction.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this article is to describe the demographic and clinical features of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and latent obstruction, with an emphasis on identifying factors associated with disease progression and survival. The presence of a resting left ventricular outflow obstruction in patients with HCM has been well described and is associated with increased symptoms and adverse long-term outcomes. However, less is known about patients with latent obstruction.

METHODS

Four hundred fifteen patients with echocardiographic or catheterization findings of latent obstruction, defined as a left ventricular outflow pressure gradient <30 mm Hg at rest, which increases to > or =30 mm Hg with provocation, were identified and included in the study group.

RESULTS

The mean age was 55.0 +/- 17.9, and 226 (54.6%) patients were male. There were 330 (79.5%) patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I and II at baseline. Fifty-nine (17.9%) of these patients had symptom progression requiring septal reduction therapy. Eighty-five patients had severe symptoms (NYHA functional class III and IV) at baseline, and 23 (27.1%) underwent septal reduction. Overall survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 98%, 91%, and 81%, respectively. Survival among patients after undergoing invasive relief of outflow obstruction was equivalent to the general US population.

CONCLUSIONS

Latent obstruction in HCM is an important pathophysiologic entity and may cause heart failure symptoms. One-third of patients in this referral series required invasive therapy for relief of symptoms. The evaluation of HCM patients with resting outflow tract gradients <30 mm Hg must include provocative maneuvers to identify this substantial subset of patients, preferably by physiologic exercise.