HCM

I was diagnosed with HOCM about 12 years ago. No family history of SCD or HCM (parents/siblings/grandparents as well as my own children have all been tested by Echo and ECG).

Echo results (Fall 2006), the following were reported.
Ventricular Septum Thickness -- 1.3
Posterior Wall Thickness -- 1.1
LV Dimension(d) -- 4.5
LV Dimension(s) -- 2.3
LV EF -- 80
Left Atrial AP -- 4.2
Left Atrial Volume -- 68

Left atrium dilated, left ventrical quite small, mild LVH with somewhat more prominent thickening of the septum and anterior wall.
The septum is sigmoid-shaped with resultant gradient even at mid-left ventricular level of 18mmHg. With stress, it peaked at 36mmHg.

I do not have my latest echo results with me, but I know that my Ventricular Septal Thickness  is now 1.2.  and my cardiologist said I am no longer obstructed.  I am on 125mg Atenolol daily and my heart rate is still hovering around 70bmp at rest.  My BP is has been around 105/60.

My sister (age 34) was just diagnosed with Cushings syndrome and they gave her an echo which showed a septal thickness of 1.4.  Other than that her echo was basically normal.  Her BP is normal/high and her resting heartrate is 107bpm.  She has not been prescribed anything yet.

Another sister(age 38) was diagnosed about 2 months ago with a rare form of the already rare Ehlers-Danlos Vascular, after her daughter suffered an aneurism (aneurysm).  Her daughter also confirmed positive for this 'rare' type of EDS Vascular.

I have always doubted my having HCM, now I am doubting it even more.  I have read about LVH being found in Cushings and am confused about the distinction between LVH and HCM.

Thank you for any information you can provide on this.

[CCF HeartMD3]

marylou7,
The diagnosis of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy depends upon many different features seen on echocardiograms. In the majority of cases of HOCM, the septum is thicker than 1.4 cm. With that said, there are variants of HOCM that do not have significant septal thickening yet still have gradients (or obstruction) in the LV outflow tract.  

[tickertock]

My lVS last measured 1.4cm(14mm)(2005) and I was assured i don"t have HCM, I'm not a doctor, but i doubt you have true HCM.