title: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Can the noninvasive diagnostic testing identify high risk patients?
abstract: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the young, particularly among athletes. Identifying high risk individuals is very important for SCD prevention. The purpose of this review is to stress that noninvasive diagnostic testing is important for risk assessment. Extreme left ventricular hypertrophy and documented ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation increase the risk of SCD. Fragmented QRS and T wave inversion in multiple leads are more common in high risk patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging provides complete visualization of the left ventricular chamber, allowing precise localization of the distribution of hypertrophy and measurement of wall thickness and cardiac mass. Moreover, with late gadolinium enhancement, patchy myocardial fibrosis within the area of hypertrophy can be detected, which is also helpful in risk stratification. Genetic testing is encouraged in all cases, especially in those with a family history of HCM and SCD.
authors.affiliation: Li Zhang, Obinna Mmagu, Peter R Kowey, Center for Clinical Cardiology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lankenau Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19096, United States.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Li Zhang, Obinna Mmagu, Peter R Kowey, Center for Clinical Cardiology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lankenau Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19096, United States.
authors.forename: Obinna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mmagu
authors.affiliation: Li Zhang, Obinna Mmagu, Peter R Kowey, Center for Clinical Cardiology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lankenau Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19096, United States.
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Li Zhang, Obinna Mmagu, Peter R Kowey, Center for Clinical Cardiology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lankenau Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19096, United States.
authors.forename: Dayuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Li Zhang, Obinna Mmagu, Peter R Kowey, Center for Clinical Cardiology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lankenau Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19096, United States.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Li Zhang, Obinna Mmagu, Peter R Kowey, Center for Clinical Cardiology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lankenau Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19096, United States.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baranchuk
authors.affiliation: Li Zhang, Obinna Mmagu, Peter R Kowey, Center for Clinical Cardiology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lankenau Medical Center, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19096, United States.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kowey
keywords: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Noninvasive diagnostic testing; Sudden cardiac death