TY - JOUR T1 - Heart rate variability in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy JF - Heart JO - Heart SP - 205 LP - 206 DO - 10.1136/heart.89.2.205 VL - 89 IS - 2 AU - G Butera AU - D Bonnet AU - J Kachaner AU - D Sidi AU - E Villain Y1 - 2003/02/01 UR - http://heart.bmj.com/content/89/2/205.abstract N2 - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) carries an increased risk of sudden death, especially in children and young adults. We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) in children with HCM, in order to evaluate its prognostic value. Seventeen patients (9 males and 8 females) with non-obstructive HCM were prospectively enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of HCM had been made between the ages of 1 month and 13 years (mean (SD) 71 (54) months). At the time of the study their ages ranged from 16 months to 16.5 years (mean 123 (70) months). HCM was defined by the presence of a hypertrophied, non-dilated left ventricle, in the absence of underlying cardiac, systemic disease or syndromic conditions. Four patients had a family history of HCM and two had a family history of premature (less than 50 years) sudden cardiac death of a first degree relative. At the time of the study, no patients were receiving treatment. Seven patients complained of moderate exertional dyspnoea; no patient had a history of chest pain or syncope. Standard 12 lead ECG showed that seven patients had abnormal repolarisation. On 24 hour monitoring, all patients were in stable sinus rhythm, and no arrhythmia was recorded. Ten patients underwent exercise testing and none had hypotension, arrhythmias or ischaemia during exercise. Five patients … ER -