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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2013: Current speculations and future perspectives
Georgios K Efthimiadis, Efstathios D Pagourelias, Thomas Gossios, Thomas Zegkos, Cardiomyopathies Center, First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece
Author contributions: Efthimiadis GK and Pagourelias ED reviewed the literature, organized and wrote the various sections of the paper; Gossios T contributed to the manuscript’s format and together with Zegkos T critically reviewed and edited the final version of this paper.
Correspondence to: Georgios K Efthimiadis, MD, Cardiomyopathies Center, First Cardiology Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1 Al Svolou str, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece. efthymos@med.auth.gr
Telephone: +30-231-994820 Fax: +30-231-994820
Received: November 7, 2013
Revised: December 4, 2013
Accepted: January 13, 2014
Published online: February 26, 2014
Revised: December 4, 2013
Accepted: January 13, 2014
Published online: February 26, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents the most common inherited cardiomyopathic process with an autosomal dominant trait of inheritance. This review incorporates contemporary research findings and addresses major and controversial aspects of HCM, including preclinical diagnosis, genetic analysis, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, sudden cardiac death, myocardial ischemia and atrial fibrillation. Rather than enumerating clinical studies and guidelines, challenging problems concerning the disease are critically appraised by this review, highlighting current speculations and recommending future directions.