by This thickening of the heart muscle, known as left ventricular hypertrophy, makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. HCM is one of the most common genetic heart diseases, affecting about 1 in 500 people. While there are sometimes no noticeable symptoms, the thickened heart muscle can interfere with blood flow from the heart and cause serious complications like heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms.
Medications for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Therapeutics
Various medications can be used to help treat and manage symptoms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Therapeutics. Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed as a first-line treatment to help slow the heartbeat and decrease the force on the thickened heart muscle. This can help improve symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath during activity. Beta-blockers also help decrease the risk of abnormal heart rhythms.
Calcium channel blockers are another option for rate control that can be used in patients who cannot tolerate beta-blockers. These medications work by relaxing the heart muscle and arteries to decrease the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Other medications such as disopyramide may be used in select patients to help improve heart function.
When lifestyle modifications and medications are not enough, additional interventional procedures may be considered to help improve symptoms from HCM. One such procedure is septal reduction therapy which aims to decrease the outflow obstruction from the thickened septum.
Septal Reduction Therapy
In select patients whose symptoms remain uncontrolled despite maximum medical therapy, septal reduction therapy can provide significant relief. This procedure, also known as septal myectomy or alcohol septal ablation, works by selectively reducing the thickness of the enlarged heart muscle segment known as the intraventricular septum.
Septal myectomy is a surgical procedure where a small portion of the thickened septal muscle is removed through an incision in the heart. This creates more space in the left ventricle and decreases the pressure gradients from outflow obstruction.
For patients who are not surgical candidates, alcohol septal ablation can be performed. During this minimally invasive procedure, a catheter is threaded through a blood vessel in the groin up to the heart. Small controlled doses of alcohol are then injected into a specific septal blood vessel to permanently kill a small area of heart muscle. Over time, this causes scarring and thinning of the septum to relieve symptoms.
Implantable Devices for Abnormal Rhythms
Some patients with HCM are at higher risk for developing dangerous abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation. Implantable devices can help detect and potentially treat these arrhythmias before they become life-threatening.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are small devices placed under the skin in the chest connected to wires in the heart. An ICD continuously monitors the heart rhythm and can deliver electric shocks or pulses to restore a normal rhythm if an abnormality is detected. ICDs have been shown to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death in high-risk HCM patients.
For individuals with symptomatic atrial fibrillation, a procedure called ablation may be considered. During an ablation, the heart’s electrical pathways are scarred or destroyed using a catheter and radiofrequency energy to prevent abnormal conduction and restore a normal sinus rhythm. Ablation has been found to significantly improve quality of life in selected HCM patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation.
Future Directions and Clinical Trials
Research continues to explore new treatment strategies for HCM. Gene and stem cell therapies hold promise but are still in early stages of development. Clinical trials are investigating medications like mavacamten that directly target the contractile proteins involved in causing left ventricular hypertrophy. Preliminary studies found mavacamten reduced septal wall thickness and improved symptoms in HCM patients after 24 weeks of therapy.
larger long-term trials are still needed but such drugs represent a new potential pharmaceutical approach to HCM. Additional trials are exploring the role of surgical myectomy versus alcohol ablation or comparing outcomes in children versus adults. Advancements in genetic testing are also helping to better understand disease mechanisms and identify individuals most at risk who may benefit from earlier screening and intervention. With continued research, more personalized therapy options for HCM management are on the horizon.
*Note:
1.Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2.We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
About Author - Money Singh
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemicals and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. LinkedIn Profile
