Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

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Diagnosis & Tests

The pulse in the arms and neck may have special characteristics. When the doctor palpates (feels) the chest, an abnormal heart impulse may be revealed. Listening with a stethoscope may reveal abnormal heart sounds or a murmur, which may change intensity with different body positions.

Most frequently, the physical examination of patients with HCM is unremarkable.

Left ventricular enlargement, obstruction of blood flow, or mitral valve regurgitation (i.e., malfunctioning of the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle) may appear on:

• echocardiography (the most common test) with Doppler ultrasound. For a more accurate evaluation, some patients need a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).
• chest X-ray
• An ECG may indicate left ventricle enlargement, arrhythmias, previous heart attack, and/or ischemic changes. These changes are better captured by a 24-hour ECH (Holter).
• cardiac catheterization

Lab tests are not specifically diagnostic for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but tests may be used to rule out other suspected diseases.

Your health care provider may recommend that your close blood relatives -- even if they have no symptoms -- also be tested for HCM.