Tag: hypertophic cardiomyopathy

What the Heck Happened to HCMBeat?

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You have probably noticed the lack of activity on HCMBeat in the last couple of years, and may have wondered what the heck happened. 

The simple truth is that life just got in the way. 

Between my responsibilities as a caregiver for a close family member who was diagnosed with a serious medical condition (not HCM) and my responsibilities to my paying job, I just have not had the bandwidth to keep HCMBeat current. 

But I am now throwing it out there to you readers (if you are still out there!)  If anyone would like to collaborate to come up with a way to take HCMBeat into the future, I would love to hear from you.   

Now, more than ever, there are so many things going on in the HCM world and the public deserves to know about it!

Please email me here if you are interested in talking about possibilities.

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy holiday season.

Best,

Cynthia Burstein Waldman, Founder/Editor HCMBeat

Picture Improved for HCM Patients with Afib

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According to a recent overview by HCM specialists at the Lahey Clinic, the prognosis for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation has substantially improved in recent years.

The use of direct anti-coagulant drugs like Pradexa, Xarelto and Eliquis, which began in 2010, has had a major impact in reducing stroke risk in HCM patients who suffer from Afib.  And, there is a low threshold for the initiation of these drugs for HCM patients who experience episodes of atrial fibrillation, even if such episodes are sporadic or infrequent.  Also, anti-arrhythmic drugs as well as catheter and surgical ablation procedures can be helpful treatment options which are available to these patients.

There are also behavior modifications which can have a positive impact on Afib since patients who are overweight or who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk for atrial fibrillation.

Featured below are some past articles on HCMBeat about atrial fibrillation:

Atrial Fibrillation May Cause Negative Outcomes in HCM

Atrial Fibrillation? Try Giving Up Alcohol

Atrial Fibrillation: Treatable HCM Complication

Better Screening and Treatment Necessary for Atrial Fibrillation

Can This Formula Predict AFib in HCM Patients?

Beating Heart Myectomy

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A paper published this week in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology described the first beating heart septal myectomies performed on patients with obstructive HCM.

The Chinese single center study enrolled 47 patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  Surgeons used a minimally invasive limited anterior thoracotomy using a transapical approach.  The surgeries were performed while the hearts were still beating.

Since its advent in the 1960s, myectomy  has been done via sternotomy, using a transaortic approach with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass pumping blood though the body.

The paper describes the minimally invasive nature of the surgery, and stresses the benefit of the surgeon’s ability to assess obstruction in real time, instead of having to put the patient back onto bypass if more tissue removal is necessary.

46 of the 47 patients enrolled in the trial had successful removal of their obstruction, though there was one death and there were two serious complications.

A companion editorial by Dr. Hartzell Schaff of Mayo Clinic points out that while the minimally invasive approach sounds good to patients, more than 30% of the patients who undergo myectomy at Mayo also need contemporaneous procedures in order to address valve issues, atrial fibrillation or coronary artery disease.  These other procedures would not be possible using the minimally invasive approach.  Also, Dr. Schaff points out that post-operative pain from a minimally invasive approach is not necessarily less than that experienced from the more invasive alternative.

In summary, this approach could prove to be a promising option for some patients, but larger studies are needed. As always, patients should consider surgical volume and consistent results when evaluating whether to undergo any surgery.

Mavacamten (Brand Name Camzyos) Approved in Europe

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Bristol Myers Squibb’s first-in-class myosin modulator mavacamten (brand name Camzyos) has been approved by the European Commission for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in all countries which are part of the European Union.

See the press release here.