From the Guidelines
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a harsh crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur, often due to systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, as described in the 2024 AHA/ACC/AMSSM/HRS/PACES/SCMR guideline 1. This murmur is typically best heard at the left lower sternal border and apex, and its intensity can increase with maneuvers that decrease ventricular volume, such as the Valsalva maneuver or standing from a squatting position, as noted in the guideline 1. Some key features of the murmur and associated sounds include:
- A harsh crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur
- Increased intensity with maneuvers that decrease ventricular volume
- Decreased intensity with squatting or handgrip exercises
- Presence of a fourth heart sound due to decreased ventricular compliance
- Possible presence of a mitral regurgitation murmur These sounds can be detected during physical examination using a stethoscope, and the intensity of the murmur often correlates with the degree of obstruction, providing valuable clinical information about disease severity, as outlined in the 2024 guideline 1.
From the Research
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Sounds
- The provided studies do not directly describe the sound of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, it can be inferred that the condition may produce abnormal heart sounds due to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, which is present in approximately 60% of patients 5.
- The obstruction can cause a murmur, but the specific sound of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not described in the studies 3, 4.
- Further research may be needed to determine the characteristic sound of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as the current studies focus on diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.