Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the heart muscle. Often caused by a genetic mutation, it can run in families and affect one or many members, at any age.
At our clinic, there are tests we do to help us diagnose and treat your condition. You may have some or all these tests.
Blood tests
We do routine blood tests to check your general health. We also do specific blood tests that relate to your heart health and also genetic blood tests.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
This is a recording of your heart’s electrical activity. It tells us if there are any problems with your heart’s rhythm. You lie down on a bed and we place electrodes (small sticky pads) on your chest. Leads from the electrodes then connect to the ECG machine.
The test does not hurt and only takes five minutes.
Echocardiogram (echo)
This is an ultrasound scan that shows the structure of your heart, and how well blood is pumping around your body.
Cardiopulmonary exercise test (MVO2)
This checks how the heart muscle is working by measuring the amount of oxygen used during exercise. It helps when studying problems such as breathlessness and fatigue/tiredness.
Find out more about the cardiopulmonary exercise test
Cardiac magnetic resonance scan (CMR)
A CMR scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of your heart. It gives us information about the structure of your heart and blood vessels, and how well they are working. It does not use radiation.
You must not eat or drink anything containing caffeine for two hours before this test. You can find caffeine in tea, coffee, some soft drinks, chocolate and nuts and this can affect your heart rate.
24 or 48 hour ECG monitor (holter)
This is a 24 or 28-hour recording of your heart’s electrical activity, which is painless. We place electrodes on your chest and connect to a small, portable monitor which you wear at home overnight.
Find out more about ECG monitors
There are currently no related conditions associated with this test.
About the cardiomyopathy team
The cardiomyopathy team at the Trust is made up of consultants and specialist nurses.
Consultants
Dr Antonis Pantazis, consultant cardiologist
Dr Sanjay Prasad, consultant in heart failure and imaging
Professor Piers Daubeney, consultant in paediatric cardiology with a special interest in cardiomyopathy
Dr John Baksi, consultant cardiologist
Dr Sanjay Kumar Kohli, consultant cardiologist
Dr Alex Lyon, consultant cardiologist
Mr Olivier Ghez, consultant paediatric and congenital surgeon
Dr Maria Kinali, honorary consultant paediatric neurologist
Dr Leonie Wong, paediatric electrophysiology consultant
Specialist nurses (Royal Brompton Hospital)
Catherine Renwick, lead nurse for cardiomyopathy, aortopathy and channelopathy
Bethan Cowley, adult ICC clinical nurse specialist
Fortunate Rusike, adult ICC clinical nurse specialist
Charlene Casey, paediatric clinical nurse specialist
Lucy Green, paediatric clinical nurse specialist
Emma Ashby, ICC nurse
Louise Parker, ICC nurse
Rachel Mackay, adult ICC clinical nurse specialist (on maternity leave)
Suad Warsama, adult ICC clinical nurse specialist (on maternity leave)
Specialist nurses (Harefield Hospital)
Alison Pottle, nurse consultant in cardiology
Julie Bellchambers, clinical nurse specialist
Fiona Eggenton, clinical nurse specialist
Contact
Royal Brompton Hospital
If you have any queries regarding your appointment date, please call: 020 7352 8121, extension 2919.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact the ICC clinical nurse specialists by calling 020 7352 8121, extension 2205 or 8823.
If we can't take your call, please leave a message and a nurse specialist will call you back.
Harefield Hospital
If your appointment is at Harefield Hospital, please contact the clinical nurse specialists by calling 01895 828 729.
See the answers to frequently asked questions about our inherited cardiovascular conditions service.
Further information
Cardiomyopathy UK– information and support for families with cardiomyopathy
Cardiac Risk in the Young- supports young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and offers bereavement support to families affected by young sudden cardiac death
British Heart Foundation – supporting those suffering from heart conditions
Heart Research – information and advice for young people growing up with a heart condition
Children’s Heart Federation- a children’s heart charity dedicated to helping children with congenital or acquired heart disease and their families in Great Britain and Northern Ireland