Characterization of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Using Magnetic Resonance “Fibrosis” Imaging

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects one in five hundred people in the United States. It is historically recognized by abnormal patterns of hypertrophy in at risk populations. However, from its first description fibrosis of the myocardium has been integrally linked to the disease, its clinical manifestations and its progress. Magnetic Resonance Imaging allows non-invasive realization of this fibrosis and may improve early diagnosis, improve our understanding of the true prevalence of disease as well as risk assessment while offering the opportunity for recognition and perhaps treatment of pre-clinical disease.