Eectrocardiogram is a more sensitive indicator than echocardiography ofhypertrophic cardiomyopathy infamilies with a mutation in the MYH7 gene 111 expression during cardiac growth. Int Rev Cytol tricular hypertrophy identified by two dimensional 1991;124:137-86. echocardiography in patients with hypertrophic car- 21 Karam R, Lever HM, Healy BP. Hypertensive hyper- diomyopathy. Am I Cardiol 1983;51:189-94. trophic cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopa- 24 McKenna W, Stewart JT, Nihoyannopoulous P, McGinty thy with hypertension? A study of 78 patients. JAm Coil F, Davies MJ. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without Cardiol 1989;13:580-4. hypertrophy; two families with myocardial disarray in 22 Gilligan D, Cleland J, Oakley C. The clinical and genetic the absence of increased myocardial mass. Br Heart J of cardiomyopathy. Current 1990;63:287-90. heterogeneity hypertrophic Br Heart J: first published as 10.1136/hrt.72.2.111 on 1 August 1994. Downloaded from Medical Literature-Cardiovascular Medicine 1990;9: 25 Panza JA, Maron BJ. Relation of electrocardiographic 155-61. abnormalities to evolving left ventricular hypertrophy in 23 Maron BJ, Wolfson JK, Ciro E, Spirito P. Relation of elec- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during childhood. Am J trocardiographic abnormalities and patterns of left ven- Cardiol 1989;63: 1258-65. ABSTRACTS IN CARDIOLOGY Prevention of root dilatation in Marfan's syndrome Prophylactic replacement of a dilating aortic young people to long-term side effects with- root to forestall dissection is an accepted form out proven benefit is not justifiable. of management in Marfan's syndrome but The problem of dissection in Marfan's syn- there is now clear evidence, in the article by drome is not totally solved however. In some Shores et al, that the need for surgery can be patients dissection occurs before the aorta reduced by long-term fi adrenergic blockade. dilates and even in those on fi blockade aortic Such evidence was needed. The doses used to dilatation continues, albeit at a slower rate. achieve a negative inotropic effect, and theo- We are, however, closer to rational therapy. retically reduce risk, are high. To expose M J DAVIES http://heart.bmj.com/ on September 24, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright..