"It is caused by a change in one or more genes and mostly passed on through families. Some feel fine most of the time and have few or no symptoms. But others can suffer complications, such as heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms, which can lead to a cardiac arrest. The problem is there is no cure. Doctors also do not know which patients with the genetic condition are most at risk from deadly complications."
"In a landmark study, the team measured the levels of a protein, N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-Pro-BNP), in the blood of 700 HCM patients. NT-Pro-BNP is released by the heart as part of normal pumping. But high levels are a sign the heart is working too hard. Those with the highest levels had poorer blood flow, more scar tissue and changes in their heart which could lead to atrial fibrillation or heart failure."
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited heart-muscle disease causing thickening of the heart wall, often from gene changes passed through families. Symptom severity varies from none to complications such as heart failure, abnormal rhythms, and cardiac arrest, and no cure exists. A blood biomarker, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT‑Pro‑BNP), is released during normal heart pumping but rises when the heart is under strain. Measurement of NT‑Pro‑BNP in 700 people with HCM identified patients with poorest blood flow, increased scar tissue, and structural changes linked to atrial fibrillation and heart failure. NT‑Pro‑BNP testing could enable targeted monitoring and timely treatment for high-risk patients.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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