Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Overview

Dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by ventricular dilation and reduced systolic function in the absence of another explanation sufficient to account for the phenotype.

Causes

Causes include genetic disease, myocarditis, toxins, metabolic disorders, tachyarrhythmia, and systemic disease, although many cases remain idiopathic.

Clinical Features

Symptoms are often those of systolic heart failure, including fatigue, dyspnea, edema, and reduced exercise tolerance.

Investigation & Management

Echocardiography demonstrates ventricular dilation and impaired systolic function. Additional investigations are used to identify the cause.

Management follows heart-failure principles with additional attention to arrhythmia risk and family screening when appropriate.

Clinical Pearls