Am I a candidate for genetic testing for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) or Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)?

Below are four simple questions designed to help you, or your family members, decide if you are candidates for genetic testing:

If you answer “yes” to question 1 or question 2, you should talk with your physician (either your family doctor, internal medicine doctor, or your cardiologist) about genetic testing for HCM or DCM.

If you answer “yes” to question 3 or question 4, you should talk with your physician (either your family doctor, internal medicine doctor, or your cardiologist) about getting an echocardiogram (a test that allows your doctor to see the size and shape of the heart) and, if indicated, follow-up genetic testing.

1. Have you or has any of your first or second degree relatives* received a clinical diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)?


2. Have you or has any of your first or second degree relatives* had a heart test called an echocardiogram that showed left ventricular dilation or cardiac hypertrophy?


3. Has any of your first or second degree relatives* experienced sudden cardiac death before the age of 45?


4. Do you or any of your first or second degree relatives* have any of the following signs or symptoms:
   
   
• 4.1. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and or fatigue, especially during or after exercise?
• 4.2. Frequent unexplained fainting spells?
• 4.3. Systolic heart murmur with bifid arterial pulse?

* First degree relatives include children, parents, and siblings. Second degree relatives include grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and half-siblings.

Since this testing is new, we recommend that you print the following materials about HCM and DCM genetic testing to give to your doctor:

• Physician Information: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).
• Physician Information: Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).

You may also want to review the following information, available on our website:

• Patient information: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Disease Overview
• Facts about Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Patient information: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Disease Overview
• Facts about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Information about genetic testing

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone at: 1-866-647-0735 or by email at: