August 20, 2026- Mayo Clinic researchers have developed and externally validated an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can identify a potentially significant heart obstruction from routine ultrasound videos without relying on specialized Doppler imaging. The technology could help clinicians flag patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who may need additional testing, particularly in settings where specialized echocardiography expertise is limited. Study findings are published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.
HCM is a genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick. About two-thirds of these patients develop left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, which restricts blood leaving the heart, causing symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath with exertion or when lying flat. Knowing which patients develop LVOT obstruction is important because it influences treatment decisions and long-term management for patients with HCM.