This year at the AHA Scientific Sessions several presentations focused on HCM.  A couple receiving attention included:

• SPIRIT-HCM, a Cleveland Clinic study which looked at the effectiveness of myectomy in improving symptoms in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This study used patient self-reported questionnaires to measure each patient’s improvement in symptoms and quality of life following surgery. The study showed that myectomy is highly effective in reducing symptoms and in improving quality of life following surgery.

   

• More data was presented by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) regarding its experimental drug mavacamten for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This data showed a sustained reduction in certain biomarkers of heart stress over a longer period of time.  Additionally, BMS provided evidence that mavacamten maintains its effectiveness when taken in tandem with background beta blocker therapy.  Read the complete abstract here.