Alcohol Septal Ablation Seems Safe and Effective in Young Patients

Results from a large European registry on this percutaneous alternative for decreasing obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Alcohol septal ablation (ASA), performed percutaneously, is an alternative to surgical myomectomy for symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, but current U.S. guidelines recommend it only for older patients. To determine whether this guideline should be reassessed, investigators examined data from a large European registry on 1197 patients undergoing ASA and analyzed outcomes in three age groups — young (mean age, 42), middle-aged (mean age, 58), and older (mean age, 73). At least 80% of each group were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or higher.

Periprocedural mortality was significantly higher in the older than the young group (2.0% vs. 0.3%). At a mean follow-up of 5 years, 95% of young patients were …

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)