The biphasic course of changes of left ventricular outflow gradient after alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Background and aim: Alcohol septal ablation (PTSMA) decreases left ventricular outflow gradient (LVOG) and relieves symptoms in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). The time course of early changes of LVOG has not been clearly determined up to now.Methods: Doppler echocardiography was used to determine the maximal LVOG. Thirty-nine consecutive patients (24 women; age 55±14) were examined at baseline, immediately after the procedure, and 3-5 days, 3 weeks and 3 months thereafter.Results: The baseline LVOG decreased immediately after PTSMA from 73±49 mmHg to 13±16 mmHg (