Heart Transplant and Durable Mechanical Circulatory Support for Specific Less-Common Cardiomyopathies

Abstract

Clinical characteristics of progressive heart failure warranting advanced heart failure (AHF) therapies are not well defined in patients with atypical cause-specific cardiomyopathies, as in conventional ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathies. Some of these specific cardiomyopathies are associated with systemic diseases, and the impact and the severity of extracardiac involvement is crucial in defining the appropriate choice of AHF therapies. This review focuses on special considerations in cause-specific cardiomyopathies, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cardiac sarcoidosis, cardiac amyloidosis, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. The review evaluates AHF therapies, including heart transplantation and durable mechanical circulatory support devices, along with nuances in the management of these patients after they receive AHF therapies.