Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center

The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center is designed to provide patients with state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment options.

Dr. Barry J. Maron directs the Center. Dr. Maron has studied and managed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients for 35 years and has written extensively on the disease, with 800 publications to date. The Center is staffed by nationally recognized cardiologists with subspecialty expertise in the evaluation and treatment of patients with this disease. All currently accepted treatments for patients with HCM are available through the Center.

In the upcoming 2013 Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy International Summit V, directed by Dr. Maron, a world-renowned faculty will explore the diverse views on the natural history of HCM and the assessment of risk for sudden death.

HCM is the most common genetic heart disease and most frequent cause of sudden death in young people. It is characterized by a thickened left ventricular wall. The clinical spectrum is broad and complex, encompassing the risk for sudden cardiac death predominantly in the young, and heart failure disability at any age. 

Notably, HCM has become a treatable cardiac disease with management options available for all complications (many of which are reversible), including drugs, implantable defibrillators, pacemakers, surgical myectomy and percutaneous ablation, as well as genetic counseling. HCM for many patients is compatible with normal longevity and life expectancy without disability or major interventions. Diagnostic strategies include echocardiography, magnetic resonance, electrocardiography and genetic testing.

Although a relatively common disease in the general population, HCM is uncommon in cardiology practice, particularly in comparison to coronary artery disease, which represents the primary focus of cardiologists. For this reason, the HCM center concept, such as at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, is a major advantage for patients whose care is focused on the diagnosis and management of HCM by cardiologists particularly familiar with the disease.