Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy presenting as recurrent unexplained syncope

Clin Med Res. 2012 Feb;10(1):26-31. doi: 10.3121/cmr.2011.986. Epub 2011 Aug 4.

Abstract

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHC) is a rare variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Since its description by Sakamoto in 1976 in Japanese patients, our understanding of this entity has evolved. Although cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as the gold standard for diagnosing AHC, clinical attention must be drawn to the unique electrocardiographic features that provide the initial clues to making the diagnosis. In this case, we present a 47-year-old man with AHC who presented with recurrent syncope, but anomalies on his electrocardiogram went unnoticed on two clinical encounters. He was subsequently admitted to our service and rapidly diagnosed after we observed the very classical findings in the plain twelve lead electrocardiogram done at the time of admission. In a clinical encounter involving a patient presenting with recurrent syncope, special attention must be focused on the electrocardiogram to decipher the unique diagnostic features it might show.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / diagnosis*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / physiopathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrocardiography*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Syncope / diagnosis*
  • Syncope / physiopathology*