Asymetric septal hypertrophy

[frances]

In lay terms can you tell me what asymetric septal hypertrophy is, how it is treated and what the prognosis is.  My sister, a 54 year old, has just been diagnosed with ASH and has been given little information.  She has mild aortic and mitral regurgitation as well.  I had an aortic valve replacement (11 years) with a allograph (presently have a +2 leakage) which was diagnosed as a congenital defect.  Are these conditions related and could they have been caused by alcohol during pregnancy?  Our mother had alcoholic cardiomyopathy.  I also have a brother (62 years of age) who has a heart murmur but no other apparent heart problems however, he has had surgery for and is now on disability because of cerebral aneurysms (3) - 2 of which were corrected with the 3rd inoperable.  Makes me wonder if all of these conditions are due related in that we had an alcoholic mother.

[Vivian McClinton]

Please send information on ASH.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

WHile alcohol during pregnancy is a bad idea, it is not likely that is the cause of your problems now. ASH refers to enlargement of certain parts of the heart. It can be a condition that requires no specific treatment or, in its severe forms, requires open heart surgery. It all depends on just how thick the heart muscle is.