Sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: potential importance of altered autonomic control of vasculature.

Current evidence suggests that alterations in the autonomic function and abnormal vascular control play a significant role either as independent triggers themselves or as modifiers of ischaemia and tolerance to to arrhythmias. A combination of several factors--that is, arrhythmia, hypotension, altered autonomic function including vascular control, and ischaemia are therefore likely to act as triggers for sudden death. The relative contribution of each of these factors needs further detailed study.