investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
- ECG:
- left ventricular hypertrophy, often gross
- ischaemic changes e.g. T wave inversion
- chest X-ray: normal until left ventricular dilatation in heart failure
- echocardiography is generally diagnostic, showing:
- septal hypertrophy
- mid-systolic closure of aortic valve
- an anterior movement of mitral valve during systole
- 24 hour tape - patients at risk of arrhythmias
- exercise test carried out with care
- blood pressure does not rise with exercise
- possible arrythmia, peripheral circulatory collapse
- cardiac catheterization
- a small left ventricular cavity
- obliteration of the cavity in systole
- thickened trabeculae and papillary muscles