What are the treatment options in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Although there is no cure, treatment options are available to improve symptoms and prevent complications. Medications like beta-blockers and calcium antagonists can reduce symptoms. Anti-arrhythmic drugs like amiodarone can be used to reduce the risk of sudden death. Patients should also take antibiotics before invasive procedures like teeth cleaning to prevent an infection of the heart valves called endocarditis. If severe symptoms persist despite drug therapy, surgical myectomy (removal of muscle) can successfully relieve symptoms in patients whose left ventricular outflow tract is narrowed and causes obstruction of blood flow. Another option for patients with severe symptoms is non-surgical myectomy, in which a small amount of alcohol solution is injected into a minor branch of the coronary artery that supplies the upper septum, thus destroying this part of the heart muscle. The best way to prevent sudden death is to screen and identify high-risk patients for sudden death and implan
