Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex type of heart disease that affects the heart muscle. HCM causes thickening of the heart muscle (especially the ventricles, or lower heart chambers), left ventricular stiffness, mitral valve changes and cellular changes.
At Cleveland Clinic's Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute, we have a special interest in treating Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Since 1978, we have treated hundreds of patients and the numbers are increasing each year.
Cleveland Clinic's Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center is a multidisciplinary specialty treatment group dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment HCM in individuals and family members. We bring together clinicians that specialize in HCM, including physicians and nurses from Cardiovascular Medicine, Genetics, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Cardiology, and Psychology with expertise in diagnostic and genetic testing, medical management, and interventional and surgical procedures for patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
To learn more about other types of cardiomyopathy, see What is Cardiomyopathy?
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- Harry M. Lever, MD - Center Director; Staff Cardiologist in the Section of Cardiovascular Imaging, the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine; specializes in echocardiography and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- »Cardiovascular Medicine and Imaging
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Imaging specialists use the latest imaging techniques, such as tissue Doppler imaging, color M-Mode Doppler, transesophageal echocardiography, MR and CT help to diagnose hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and determine the best treatment. This group of physicians will evaluate you and begin to develop your plan of care. Subsequently, based on your evaluation, they may refer you to their colleagues in interventional cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery.
- »Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Electrophysiology and Pacing
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In some patients, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devices are required to prevent sudden death in patients with HCM. We have a team of electrophysiologists who specialize in rhythm disorders and devices who are consulted as needed for patients with HCM.
- »Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Invasive Cardiology
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Interventionalists who are part of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center have experience with alcohol ablation, an interventional approach, used in select patients to treat septal enlargement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.
- »Cardiothoracic Surgery
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The surgical procedure for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is called septal myectomy. In some cases, surgery may also be required to repair heart valves affected by HCM.
Cardiovascular Surgeons
- »Pediatric Cardiology
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Our younger patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy require a specialized approached by a cardiologist pediatrician.
- »Other Specialties
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Other specialties are often needed to assist in evaluating family members with HCM or assisting with care or treatment of a condition. These medical professionals are experts in their field and have a particular specialty interest in the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Genomic Medicine: Genetic Testing and Counseling
Learn more about the Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare.
Psychiatry and Psychology
What to Expect
Whether you are coming from around the corner or around the world, you want to know what to expect before, during and after your visit with us. If you have any questions while reviewing this information, please contact us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
- »Before Your Appointment
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If you are scheduled at least one week away, you will be asked to send in your records, including medical history, test results and films (such as echocardiogram, chest x-ray, MRI or CT as applicable). All information should be sent in the same package (clearly marked with your name and address) via Airborne Express, Federal Express, or certified U.S. mail (make sure you have a tracking number) to the physician with which you have an appointment. The address is:
Physician Name
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue – Desk J1-5
Cleveland, OH 44195
If you are scheduled less than one week out, please bring your records to your appointment.
Travel to the Cleveland Clinic
When you make your appointment, we would like to make traveling to Cleveland Clinic as easy as possible. Information on travel to the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute.
- »During Your Appointment
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You will meet with a nurse or physician assistant (P.A.) who will collect your information, and begin the documentation process.
Depending on where you are in the diagnosis and treatment of your hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you may be sent for specialized blood tests and imaging tests (electrocardiogram, comprehensive transthoracic echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiogram, cardiac MR and multidetector CT scanning). All imaging tests will be interpreted by imaging specialists within the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center.
You will then meet with your Center cardiologist who reviews your records and take a medical history, performs a physical exam, and advises on consultations with other specialists (cardiac surgeons, invasive cardiologist, and others) within the Center as needed. If you need to meet with one of the multidisciplinary specialists, they will be consulted within a day. The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center Cardiologist will provide you with a diagnosis and plan of care within 1 to 2 days, depending on testing.
How long will you need to stay at Cleveland Clinic?
Unless a treatment is scheduled at the time of your visit, to complete all testing, you will need to stay in the Cleveland area for 1 to 2 days.
- »After Your Visit
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Follow up is individualized to the patient. There is an opportunity for telephone follow-up as well
Appointment Information
By Phone
Toll-free 800.659.7822
To insure proper testing is scheduled, let the appointment office know: 1) that you are a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patient and 2) if you are having acute symptoms.
When you make your appointment, ask the appointment secretary for the name of your physician.
Directions
Go to Desk J1- 5, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
Online
Use our secure online form to submit an appointment request 24/7. We will receive it and follow-up with you as soon as possible.
Physician Referrals
Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET):
toll-free 800.659.7822
Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute physicians, surgeons, and researchers continue to research into new treatments and therapies with the goal of improving patient care and outcomes into the future.
