hcm

[almost]

i asked a question on 1/30 about non obstructive hcm. you thought i said hocm. could you answer my questions again

can he play in a summer softball league?
i am told that his echo should no additional thicking sice his last echo 7 months ago. i'm told sometimes ity peaks at his age,26. is this so?

if most people live a normal life with this why is it so serious.
he was told he had lvh after his first echo. now they said hcm after his second echo. what would have made them change and can you have lvh with hcm. i thought they were basicily the same except 1 you can correct.

lastly are new drugs causing some regression in some patients? i've read yes and no

thank you so much for allowing me a second question

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Almost,

The comments posted by KE on 1/30/02 are true for non-obstructive or obstructive HOCM.  In fact, a recent New England Journal of Medicine paper demonstrated that the presence of obstruction did worsen the prognosis, but there was no increase in death rate with an increase in obstruction.

You have not provided us enough information to answer the question about the softball game.  It would be irresponsible of us to answer this question without seeing your son, knowing his age, seeing his echo, etc.

The LVH induced by HOCM often peaks in the third decade of life, but not necessarily so.

HOCM is serious becasue it can lead to heart failure symptoms, and even death.  Many people have mild forms, and thus are never afflicted with any symptoms.

I am not familiar with any drugs that will cause regression of the heart thickening seen with HOCM, unless the thickening has been caused by extreme hypertension or athletic training.

Hope that helps.

[almost]

yes it does thanks so much