The genetics and semantics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We read with interest the article by Maron et al.1 We would like to commend them for utilizing the term, “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,” in this report, instead of the term, “asymmetric septal hypertrophy,” which has now proven rather nonspecific. We were also pleased to note that Maron et al1 now recognize that asymmetric septal hypertrophy is not pathognomonic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Nevertheless, we are concerned about the use of the term, “disproportionate ventricular septal thickening,” which seems to further confuse the semantics. It would appear that there may be some difference between disproportionate ventricular septal thickening and asymmetric septal hypertrophy, particularly in view of the following opening statement in a previous report: “Asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) or