Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C, is a preventive cardiology PA at Intermountain Health and the former president of the Academy of Physician Associates in Cardiology.

Invasive Treatment Options in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy 

In the final episode, Invasive Treatment Options in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, the panelists explored the following critical question:

What is the role of invasive procedures for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Led by the moderator, the experts examine invasive procedures, which play a critical role in the management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) for patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. Septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation are the primary interventions used to reduce left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and improve symptoms such as dyspnea, chest pain, and syncope. These procedures are typically considered for patients with severe obstruction or functional limitations, and careful patient selection is essential to optimize outcomes. When performed by experienced centers, invasive interventions can significantly improve quality of life, functional capacity, and long-term prognosis in patients with obstructive HCM.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provide a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

Thank you for watching this HCP Live Peer Exchange series on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Please subscribe to our newsletter for information on upcoming video series.

Videos

Learn when cardiac myosin inhibitors suffice and when myectomy or alcohol ablation fits, with shared decisions at expert HCM centers.

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Video Series

Insights from the MAPLE Trial: Clinical Implications for oHCM Management 

This episode, titled Insights from the MAPLE Trial: Clinical Implications for oHCM Management, features panelists discussing the following question:

Can you please discuss the MAPLE trial and its clinical implications?

Led by Dr. Maron, Drs. Harper, Le, and Rader examined the MAPLE trial, which provides important comparative data on the efficacy and safety of aficamten versus standard therapy in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Findings from the study highlight improvements in hemodynamic parameters, symptom burden, and functional capacity, supporting the role of cardiac myosin inhibition as a targeted treatment approach. The trial also offers insight into how newer therapies may fit into existing treatment algorithms alongside traditional agents. These results have meaningful clinical implications, particularly in guiding personalized treatment decisions and optimizing patient outcomes in real-world practice.

In the next episode, Invasive Treatment Options in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, panelists will continue their discussion on the role of invasive procedures, such as septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation, in the management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It highlights patient selection, expected outcomes, and how these interventions fit within the broader treatment landscape.

MAPLE HCM reveals aficamten beats beta blockers in obstructive HCM, reshaping first-line therapy debates amid insurance hurdles.

Differentiating Cardiac Myosin Inhibitors: Clinical Considerations and Drug Interactions

In Differentiating Cardiac Myosin Inhibitors: Clinical Considerations and Drug Interactions, our panel/experts delve(s) into the following critical questions:

How are you differentiating between the 2 FDA-approved cardiac myosin inhibitors, mavacamten and aficamten?

Do the different pharmacokinetics between the 2 impact your treatment decisions?

Led by Dr. Martin Maron, the Drs. Harper, Rader, and Le discuss differentiation between mavacamten and aficamten, which often centers on their pharmacokinetic profiles, including half-life, time to steady state, and flexibility in dose adjustments. These differences can influence how quickly clinicians can titrate therapy and respond to changes in patient status or adverse effects. Aficamten’s shorter half-life may allow for more rapid dose optimization and potentially easier management in situations requiring interruption, while mavacamten’s longer half-life may require more cautious adjustments. As a result, pharmacokinetics can play an important role in treatment decisions, particularly when considering patient-specific factors such as comorbidities, concomitant medications, and the need for close monitoring.

Explore how aficamten’s shorter half-life enables faster titration, flexible echo monitoring, and fewer drug interactions—making HCM treatment more patient-friendly and accessible.

Advancing Cardiac Myosin Inhibitor Therapy: Evidence, Monitoring, and Clinical Integration

In this episode, Advancing Cardiac Myosin Inhibitor Therapy: Evidence, Monitoring, and Clinical Integration, the cardiovascular experts explore the following questions:

What are the best practices for monitoring patients for treatment response and adverse events once they’ve initiated a cardiac myosin inhibitor?

What are best practices when working with REMS programs with these therapies?

Aficamten was also FDA-approved in December 2025 for symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. What was the trial design of SEQUOIA-HCM?

The panelists covered best practices for monitoring patients on cardiac myosin inhibitors, which include regular assessment of symptoms, functional capacity, and serial echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular outflow tract gradients and ejection fraction. Close monitoring is essential to detect potential adverse effects, particularly reductions in systolic function, and to guide dose adjustments or temporary treatment interruption if needed. Effective management within REMS programs requires coordinated workflows, timely documentation, and clear communication with patients to ensure compliance with safety monitoring requirements. The SEQUOIA-HCM trial evaluating aficamten was a randomized, controlled study designed to assess its impact on exercise capacity, symptom improvement, and hemodynamic measures in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The next episode in this series, Differentiating Cardiac Myosin Inhibitors: Clinical Considerations and Drug Interactions, features the panelists advancing their conversation on key differences between mavacamten and aficamten, including pharmacokinetic profiles and how they may influence treatment selection in clinical practice. It also reviews potential drug–drug interactions associated with each therapy and their implications for safe and effective use.

When beta blockers fall short in obstructive HCM, explore myosin inhibitors, disopyramide, or septal reduction—and see why patients breathe easier.

Linda Stein Gold, MD, is a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health. 

Eingun James Song, MD, is the director of clinical research for Frontier Dermatology. 

Patient Communication in Psoriasis Remission

This episode, titled ‘Patient Perspectives in Psoriasis Remission,’ features panelists exploring the complexity of defining remission in psoriasis by examining the alignment between clinician-defined targets and patient expectations. While advances in biologic therapies have made complete skin clearance an increasingly achievable goal, the faculty highlight that remission extends beyond visible disease. The discussion emphasizes that even minimal residual disease or associated symptoms can meaningfully impact a patient’s quality of life, underscoring the importance of a more holistic approach to care.

The expert dermatologists examine how treatment decisions have evolved from a primary focus on efficacy toward a more nuanced balance that includes comorbidities, such as psoriatic arthritis and cardiovascular risk, as well as treatment burden and patient preferences. As therapeutic options have improved, clinicians are now faced with more complex decisions, including how aggressively to pursue complete clearance and how to balance that goal with long-term safety, cost considerations, and the finite number of available treatment options.

They also address the role of patient-reported outcomes in defining remission, noting that measures such as itch, pain, and quality of life do not always correlate directly with clinical clearance. The panelists highlight the need for ongoing dialogue between clinicians and patients to ensure treatment goals reflect what matters most to the individual. This discussion reinforces that remission in psoriasis is not a one-size-fits-all concept, but rather a dynamic, patient-centered goal that requires thoughtful, individualized care.

In the next episode, ‘Understanding Biologic Therapies in Psoriasis,’ panelists will review the key differences between biologic classes in psoriasis and the importance of targeting specific inflammatory pathways. It highlights how advances in immunology have enabled individualized treatment approaches.

Ambitious psoriasis remission targets spark clinician debate, urging treatment tweaks to achieve sustained clearance, improve quality of life, and reduce comorbidity risks.

When beta blockers fall short in obstructive HCM, explore myosin inhibitors, disopyramide, or septal reduction—and learn why patients breathe easier.

Monitoring Treatment Response and Advancing Therapy in Obstructive HCM 

Experts share treat-to-target psoriasis goals, when to switch biologics, and how near-clear skin may reduce arthritis risk.

Remission as a Goal in Psoriasis

Learn key hypertrophic cardiomyopathy symptoms and how echoes with Valsalva or exercise reveal hidden LVOT obstruction for accurate diagnosis.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment in Obstructive HCM

Learn when IV iron beats pills for anemia after bariatric surgery, IBD, celiac, GAVE and angiectasias—plus key endoscopy steps.

Special Populations — IDA After Bariatric Surgery, in IBD, Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy, GAVE, Celiac Disease, and Small Bowel Angioectasia 

King discusses real-world patient use of AI tools for mental health advice and implications for clinical conversations.

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Major Depressive Disorder condition center page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into depression can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on MDD research, treatment, and drug development.

Clinicians Encounter Patient Use of AI for Mental Health, With Darlene King, MD

Alexander Blood, MD, is the associate director of the Massachusetts General Brigham Accelerator of Clinical Transformation, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder and CEO of AIwithCare.

Blood discusses his recent study of the RECTIFIER AI model, highlighting its superior sensitivity and accuracy compared to physicians.

Cardiology

Cardiology condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for heart disease and cardiovascular events, as well as associated diabetes, renal failure, and more...

Cardiomyopathy

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 conference coverage page features articles, videos, and expert-led live coverage from major medical meetings throughout the year.

Strategic Alliance Partnership

AI Model Outperforms Clinicians in HCM Registry Data Extraction, With Alexander Blood, MD

Pranav Garimella, MBBS, MPH, is chief medical officer of the American Kidney Fund.

Pranav discusses the necessity for addressing the structural barriers that remain for living donor kidney transplantations in black patients. 

Nephrology

The HCPLive nephrology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on kidney disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments in nephrology, and more.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Rebuilding Trust, Increasing Living Donor Transplant In Black Kidney Candidates, With Pranav Garimella, MBBS, MPH

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team in 2022 and is currently an associate editor for HCPLive. He is also the executive producer of two podcasts: Skin of Color Savvy and The Medical Sisterhood. Previously, he was the producer of the Lungcast podcast. He graduated from UC Berkeley and worked in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. You can contact him at tsmith@mjhlifesciences.com.

Articles

This phase 2b study on brensocatib did not meet its primary or secondary efficacy endpoints, causing Insmed to discontinue their HS program.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis Suppurativa condition center page, audiences can find a variety of coverage mediums for medical news and updates, including articles, video interviews, podcasts, and breaking news on dermatology research, treatment, and drug development.

Dermatology

The HCPLive dermatology page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on skin disease. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for dermatologic conditions, and more.

Brensocatib Phase 2b Study in HS Does Not Meet Endpoints, Program Discontinued

Panelists discuss the often misdiagnosed neurological and psychiatric manifestations of Wilson disease, highlighting its overlap with common movement and mental health disorders, the need for high clinical suspicion, and the importance of early diagnosis through careful evaluation of overlapping symptoms.

Neurological and Psychiatric Manifestations in Wilson Disease

Panelists discuss the often subtle and asymptomatic hepatic presentations of Wilson disease, emphasizing the importance of early detection, awareness of advanced complications, and maintaining clinical suspicion to prevent progression to severe liver outcomes.

Latest News

Invasive Treatment Options in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Insights from the MAPLE Trial: Clinical Implications for oHCM Management

Differentiating Cardiac Myosin Inhibitors: Clinical Considerations and Drug Interactions

Advancing Cardiac Myosin Inhibitor Therapy: Evidence, Monitoring, and Clinical Integration

Patient Communication in Psoriasis Remission