Ihss

[CIRQL8]

I would like a bit of information about Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis.

I unsderstand that it is not the aortic valve (as is in regular aortic stenosis) that is restricting the flow of blood from the Left Ventricle to the aorta, but the heart muscle itsself that is stenosing at the area where the aorta exits the left ventricle, thus restricting blood flow.

That is the course that this disease takes? This is a personal question, as my elderly grandmother (mid-90's) has had IHSS for a long time. Of course, I just learned of it recently. She is having intermittent angina (not dependant on rest vs. activity). The cardiologist is saying nothing more to do.

I understand that she is way to old and too many other concerns for surgery to even be an option. (Not sure of the procedure, but I know that there is something that is done to relieve some of the stenosis in a good surgical candidate.)

I guess that I really am asking about adjunctive therapy or at least pain relief during the angina attacks.

If anyone knows of a good web page, please attach a link to your response.

I kind of want to know the time left that we have with her, but in the same manner I also don't want to know!!!

Well, thanks for your time.

[dianah, ASN]

I apologize for taking so long to reply. I'm sure you're concerned about your grandmother. Below are some links you may want to check out. The condition is more recently called HOCM (pronounced "Ho-kum"): Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/medical/hypertrophic_obstructive_cardiomyopathy_hocm_.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1586913&dopt=Abstract

You may want to do more searches using "elderly HOCM" as the search words. All my best to you and your family. --- D