A major landmark

Paul James


Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common forms of genetic heart disease, affecting one in 500 people in the UK. Paul James is among them.

Existing treatments only work on the symptoms of a minority of patients, leaving the majority with no effective treatment for their symptoms.

But now, thanks to a landmark research study funded by BHF, it has been established that a relatively cheap and widely available drug called perhexiline leads to a huge improvement in symptoms.

The results need to be double-checked in a bigger trial, but the signs are good. For Paul, aged 53, it’s life-changing news.


Paul James quote