The role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in sudden death risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of sudden death in young patients, but current risk stratification strategies do not identify all patients at risk. Contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) can identify areas of abnormal myocardial substrate comprising fibrosis, the structural nidus for potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. More recently, follow-up studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between extent of LGE in patients with HCM and increased risk of adverse disease-related events, including sudden death.

Keywords: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance; Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Late gadolinium enhancement; Myocardial fibrosis; Sudden death.