Alcohol septal ablation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy utilizing a longitudinal 17-year study (mean 10.8). Observation follow-ups taken at a single medical centre

Background: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is a method of treatment in obstructive hypertrophic car­diomyopathy (HOCM), but there is little data on the long-term results of ASA and the natural course after treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of ASA in HOCM in multiannual observation, and its impact on patient survival, exercise capacity, electrical complications, and changes in the anatomy and function of the heart. Methods: The study evaluated 47 patients with HOCM with a high left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT gradient) treated between 1997 and 2014 with ASA. Annual examinations evaluated the clinical condi­tion, at rest and with exercise electrocardiogram, Holter monitoring, echocardiography, the evolution of HOCM towards the dilated form, and the frequency of pacemaker implantation. Results: The analysis included data from 34 patients under observation for 3 to 17 (mean 10.8) years. Their age at procedure was 21–65, a mean of 47 years. All patients had permanently reduced LVOT gradient with a mean of 77.36 ± 35.46 to 11.40 ± 10.85 and showed improvement in the performance I to II New York Heart Association. Two out of five deaths had possible cardiac etiology. Fifteen patients received a pacemaker or cardioverter implants. In 4 subjects the long-term observation revealed new wall contractility abnormalities, interpreted as a shift of HOCM to the dilated form. Conclusions: Alcohol septal ablation permanently eliminated the gradient in LVOT and improved the performance of patients, however it did not prevent a shift of HOCM to the dilated form. Pacemaker implantations are relatively frequent. (Cardiol J 2017; 24, 2: 125–130