Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Disappearance after treatment with amiodarone.

We used amiodarone as the only drug in three consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, marked systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve on M-mode echocardiogram, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The effective control of atrial fibrillation was associated with good symptomatic relief and with reduction until disappearance of the systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. These data were confirmed in a follow-up of 46, 30 and 30 months.