Septal involvement occurs in which type of cardiomyopathy?
A. Congestive
B. Dilated
C. Hypertrophic
D. Restrictive
Correct Answer: C. Hypertrophic
In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertrophy of the ventricular septum – not the ventricle chambers – is apparent. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiovascular disease. It is defined by an increase in left ventricular wall thickness that is not solely explained by abnormal loading conditions. This disorder is caused by a mutation in cardiac sarcomere protein genes and is most frequently transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait.
Option A: In congestive cardiomyopathy, the heart becomes stretched and weakened and is unable to pump effectively. Congestive cardiomyopathy is a clinical state in which an abnormality of ventricular myocardium results in impaired pump function and circulatory congestion.
Option B: Dilated cardiomyopathy is also called congestive cardiomyopathy, which is a condition wherein the heart cannot pump effectively due to its weakening state. In dilated cardiomyopathy, the heart’s ability to pump blood is decreased because the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged, dilated and weak. At first, the chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body. This helps to strengthen the heart’s contraction and keep the blood moving for a short while. With time, the heart muscle walls weaken and are not able to pump as strongly.
Option D: Restrictive cardiomyopathy, the rarest form of cardiomyopathy, is a condition in which the walls of the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) are abnormally rigid and lack the flexibility to expand as the ventricles fill with blood.