Understanding the medical language

Learning about obstructive HCM can be confusing, especially if you are faced with lots of words or phrases you have not heard before. This page contains some of the key words and phrases you may hear, with examples of what they mean.

NYHA (New York Heart Association) classification

Classifying heart conditions by the symptoms someone has can help healthcare providers better understand how to treat people. The NYHA classification describes how your heart condition affects your physical activity and ability to exercise:

Class I (one): no effect on physical activity
Class II (two): slight effect on physical activity
Class III (three): obvious effect on physical activity
Class IV (four): no physical activity possible without discomfort

Your doctor may use this classification to keep track of how your obstructive HCM is affecting your physical activities and to see how well you are doing on your medicine.

Echocardiogram (sometimes called Echo)

An echocardiogram is a scan that uses ultrasound waves. A scanner is placed on the outside of your body over your heart to show the structure and function of your heart.

While you are taking CAMZYOS, you will need to have regular echocardiograms. Your doctor will use these to check how much the obstruction is affecting your blood flow and how well your heart is working. They may change your CAMZYOS dose (increase, lower, or temporarily stop) based on the results. It is very important that you attend your echocardiogram appointments.

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

LVEF is a measure of how much of the blood in your heart is pumped out of the left heart chamber (ventricle) with each heartbeat. During an echocardiogram, your doctor will test your LVEF.

The normal range for LVEF is around 50–60%, but it is often higher for people with obstructive HCM. Your doctor will explain your results.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO)

LVOTO is caused by thickened heart muscle leading to reduced blood flow out of the left heart chamber (ventricle). Your doctor might test your LVOT gradient using an echocardiogram to confirm that you have obstructive HCM. They will also test your LVOT at your visits to see how well your medicine is working and to make sure you are taking the correct amount (dose).

Valsalva manoeuvre

The Valsalva manoeuvre is a physical movement that the doctor may ask you to do during an echo to check your LVOT gradient. You doctor will talk you through how to do this during your appointment.

Echo, echocardiogram; HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVOT, left ventricular outflow tract; LVOTO, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction; NYHA, New York Heart Association.

Understanding the medical language that healthcare professionals may use when talking about obstructive HCM

NYHA (New York Heart Association) classification

Echocardiogram (sometimes called Echo)

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO)

Valsalva manoeuvre

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that came with your capsules before taking CAMZYOS^®

NYHA (New York Heart Association) classification

Echocardiogram (sometimes called Echo)

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO)

Valsalva manoeuvre

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that came with your capsules before taking CAMZYOS®

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that came with your capsules before taking CAMZYOS^®