Calcium-Antagonist Receptors in the Atrial Tissue of Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a nondilated, hypertrophied left ventricle in the absence of any overt cause. A possible role of adrenergic innervation or of cellular calcium regulation is suggested by the presence of hyperdynamic left ventricular function and by the clinical and symptomatic improvement seen in patients treated with β-receptor antagonists or calcium antagonists. Therefore, we measured the density of calcium-antagonist receptors and β-adrenoceptors in the atrial myocardium of 16 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 19 patients with various other cardiac disorders. For comparison, we also measured the number of voltage-sensitive sodium channels.