Mavacamten Service at LHCH Improving Care for Patients with Cardiomyopathy
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (LHCH) is one of the first trusts in the country to provide a new life-changing treatment to heart patients.
Mavacamten, a NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) approved drug for NHS use, has recently been made available at the twice-outstanding rated specialist cardiothoracic centre, to patients with a condition known as obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).
HCM affects 1 in 500 people and causes thickening of the heart muscles, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood properly and causing irregular heart rhythms, palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, and even sudden death.
Mavacamten has been shown to be effective in relieving obstruction, improving blood flow, controlling symptoms and improving quality of life for people with obstructive HCM. In some cases, use of this drug has removed the need for more invasive treatment.
Dr Rob Cooper, Inherited Cardiac Conditions Consultant at LHCH, said: "We know the devastating impact that cardiomyopathy can have on a patient’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. We also know the symptoms they contend with on a daily basis which make life challenging.
“Therefore, it’s really pleasing for LHCH to be one of a small number of trusts in the UK, able to offer this innovative drug to patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
One of the first nine patients in the UK to be prescribed Mavacamten, was Chris Jones, from Stockport, who was referred to Dr Cooper at LHCH in late 2023.
He said: “When I met Dr Cooper, he gave me a number of treatment options for my HOCM, including alcohol ablation or open heart surgery. However when he explained the possibility of taking Mavacamten, it wasn’t a difficult decision for me to make.
“After initially starting on a lower dose, I quickly saw a 50% increase in my heart function, and started to feel so much better. I had more confidence. I felt so much better. I was able to exercise without any symptoms. So when I started on the full dose, and following my routine check ups, it was incredible to be told I’ve now had 100% heart function improvement.
“For me, Mavacamten and the care and treatment I’ve received at LHCH has really been life changing. My hope is that further advances in future will mean that all cardiomyopathy can be treated with medication, and improve thousands of lives.”
Dr Cooper added: ““Our experience here at LHCH, with patients such as Chris, is supported by other published clinical evidence. It shows that Mavacamten is effective in relieving symptoms for people with obstructive HCM and our hope is that this transformative medicine will not be the last, but leads to the development of other effective treatments for all forms of cardiomyopathy."
For more information about Mavacamten and the services provided by Dr Cooper and his team, please contact 0151 600 1616.