family history and septum size

[Gary Jackson]

Does the fact that family history shows the disease but they lived normal lives (asymptomatic as well as years) affect people that have it now as far as the quality? or is it just luck of the draw that you have early death?

does septum size make a differnce?

thank you

[Reenie]

Does the fact that family history shows the disease but they lived normal lives (asymptomatic as well as years) affect people that have it now as far as the quality? or is it just luck of the draw that you have early death?

does septum size make a differnce?

thank you

You can certainly look at family history to see how your course with HCM will go, but it's not foolproof. Every individual is different and can be affected in different ways, even within the same family. There are major risk factors that doctors look at to determine if you are at risk for sudden death. Septal size is one of them. Statistically those with massive septums (over 3 cm) have a higher risk of sudden death. I'll list those factors for you below.

Reenie

*family history of sudden cardiac death at a young age (under 50)
*history of fainting
*history of blood pressure not rising appropriately during exercise
*history of ventricular tachicardia
*septal size of 3 cm or more

[echoboy]

There is a very good journal article by Spirito et al. that tables wall thickness to sudden death. The journal is;

Magnitude of left ventricular hypertrophy and risk of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, The New England Journal of Medicine, Paolo Spirito, Pietro Bellone etc etc vol 342(4) 1778-1785

Extent of hypertrophy correlates extremely well with the incidence of SCD.


Dave

[Burton Borrok]

An abstract of this article can be read at the following address; http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/342/24/1778

I would like to point out that while the size of the septum is an indicator of risk for SCD, it is to be used in relation to the evaluation of a person for a defibrillator, which of course would change the entire picture for that person. (That’s why it is called ‘a safety net.’)

Hey Dave,
You didn’t think you were going to sneak onto the board without getting a proper ‘welcome’ and ‘glad to meet you’ did you? I’ve got this picture of a person in Sidney, Australia sitting there reading the New England Medical Journal. It’s quite a world.

Anyway, we’re glad to have you aboard. Would love to see you posting again soon.
Burt

[Linda]

Good pickup, Burt. Welcome, Dave - Linda