Cardiologists find a novel use for pacemakers
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
A multinational group of cardiologists says pacemakers can be used to treat hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), a disease which can strike at any age and is the most common cause of sudden death in athletes. HOCM is caused by the thickening of the heart's ventricular walls. Eventually the thickening obstructs the flow of blood so much that the left ventricle can no longer satisfy the body's need for oxygen.