Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Overview

Cardiomyopathies are a widely diverse set of heart muscle disorders that induce heart failure. They are characterized by progressive flow and frequently have a protracted and undetected asymptomatic period. Primary cardiomyopathy, particularly dilated cardiomyopathy, is becoming more common (1/2500 population aged 30 to 40 years, and probably more).

Dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) (a name established by W. Brigden in 1957, and clinical characteristics first described by J.F. Goodwin in 1961) is a chronic, largely irreversible cardiac disease. It is distinguished largely by left ventricular dilatation and systolic failure (remodeling with normal thickness of the walls).

It might be genetic or acquired, hereditary (25 to 50%) or non-inherited, and is classified clinically as primary or secondary. Anamnesis, physical examination, electrocardiography (ECG), ergospirometry, continuous 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring, radiological examination, echocardiography, CT angiography, MRI of the heart, radionuclide ventriculography, and invasive diagnostics (catheterization, endomyocardial biopsy) with genetic analysis are all part of the dilated cardiomyopathy diagnostic protocol.