A case of asymmetrical apical hypertrophy which is a form of hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy with giant negative T-waves.

Clinical, hemodynamic, electrocardiographic (ECG), echocardiographic, left ventricular (LV), and coronary angiographic (CA) findings are reported in a case with apical hypertrophy (AH), a form of hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy (HNCM). The most striking symptom was chest pain and the most conspicuous electrocardiographic finding consisted of giant negative T waves, reaching an amplitude of 4.0 mV. Echocardiography revealed an apical thickness of the septum and posterior wall of 40 mm; this was significantly greater than septal and posterior free wall thickening in the LV outflow area. The anterior motion (SAM) of the anterior mitral leaflet, was present, and, in hemodymic investigation, the isoproterenol test was negative. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the EF were elevated. In the LV angiogram from the right anterior oblique position (RAO), the LV free wall thickness at the apex was significantly thicker than at the outflow tract level. The patient had dilated coronary arteries. We conclude that these findings are typical for AH (HNCM) and it seems that hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (IHSS, MO), and hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy (ASH, AH) are different manifestations of a wide spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.