Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may be associated with considerable mortality in athletes. However, differentiating myocardial hypertrophy as a physiological adaptation of the heart to exercise can be a clinical challenge. In this context, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging has been shown to be a essential exam for diagnostic elucidation. The case report aimed to depict a young athlete with syncope and an initial investigation suggestive of HCM, which was excluded after deconditioning and serial MRI.
Highlights
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic myocardial disease caused by the contractile protein disarrangement of the sarcomeres, which represents the main reason for sudden death in young people[1]
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic cause of sudden death, whose incidence in the general population is not negligible
Another useful test is the transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), showing a left ventricle (LV) diastolic diameter greater than 55mm, which is common in trained athletes but rarely present in patients with HCM, wherein the cavity diameter is commonly less than 45mm
Summary
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic myocardial disease caused by the contractile protein disarrangement of the sarcomeres, which represents the main reason for sudden death in young people[1]. Myocardial hypertrophy in the absence of heart (e.g. aortic valve stenosis) or systemic diseases (e.g. hypertension and amyloidosis) characterizes HCM, which may be responsible for up to 40% of cardiac death in athletes[1]. A 31-year-old male patient, with no comorbidities and absence of familiar sudden death or cardiac disease, complained of syncope during soccer practice.
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