Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It is often associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart function problems.
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsCommon types of cardiomyopathy include:
Common causes of cardiomyopathy are:
Please see the linked articles for details on a specific type of cardiomyopathy:
When the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy can be identified, efforts are aimed at treating that condition (for example, treating high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, or stopping alcohol or cocaine use). Sometimes, no specific cause can be identified.
Attempts are also made to find a "trigger" that may have caused a patient's symptoms to suddenly get worse. Examples include:
The overall treatment of cardiomyopathies is focused on treating heart failure. However, each type of cardiomyopathy may be treated differently.
Expectations (prognosis)The outlook depends on many different things, including:
The disorder is long-term (chronic) and the condition may get worse very quickly.
ReferencesHare JM. The dilated, restrictive, and infiltrative cardiomyopathies. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007:chap 64.
Bernstein D. Diseases of the myocardium. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 439.
Wexler RK, Elton T, Pleister A, Feldman D. Cardiomyopathy: An overview. Am Fam Physician. 2009;79:778-784.
In this case of cardiomyopathy, part of the septum dividing the ventricles is interfering with the normal emptying of the left ventricle. This is one variety of the condition called hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). A catheter is introduced into the heart and through it, concentrated alcohol is applied to the abnormal area, shrinking it, allowing the heart to function normally.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/08/2010
Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, FACC Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at New York Medical College, and in private practice specializing in cardiovascular disease in Greenwich, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Previously reviewed by Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington (5/17/2010).
Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in the heart muscle. It often occurs when the heart cannot pump as well as it should, or with other heart function problems.
Most patients with cardiomyopathy have heart failure.
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsCommon types of cardiomyopathy include:
Common causes of cardiomyopathy are:
For more information on the different types of cardiomyopathy, see also:
The conditions that cause dilated cardiomyopathy are treated. Heart failure is treated by:
See also: Heart failure
A cardiac catheterization may be done to see if you need coronary artery bypass(CABG) surgery or a balloon procedure (angioplasty), whcih can immprove blood flow to the damaged or weakened heart muscle. It may also be done to measure pressures and check your heat function (called right-heart catheterization).
If you have tried all of the standard treatments and still have very severe symptoms, you may need a heart transplant. Recently, implantable artificial heart pumps have been developed. However, very few patients are able to have this advanced treatment.
Expectations (prognosis)The outlook depends on many different things, including:
Often, you can control heart failure with medicine, lifestyle changes, and by treating the condition that caused it.
Heart failure may suddenly become worse due to:
Heart failure is usually a long-term (chronic) illness. It may get worse over time. Some people develop severe heart failure that medicines, surgery, and other treatments can no longer help.
Patients with certain types of cardiomyopathy and heart failure are at risk for dangerous heart rhythm problems.
ReferencesBernstein D. Diseases of the myocardium. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 439.
Hare JM. The dilated, restrictive, infiltrative cardiomyopathies. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 68.
Wexler RK, Elton T, Pleister A, Feldman D. Cardiomyopathy: An overview. Am Fam Physician. 2009;79:778-784.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/23/2011
Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
glycogen cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a form of cardiomyopathy in which the walls of the heart become rigid.
Congestive cardiomyopathy
Primary cardiomyopathy not elsewhere classified
Cardiomyopathy is not common (affecting about 50,000 persons in the United States)
whether iga nephropathy causes cardiomyopathy
yes
yes
many many many things. but the definition of cardiomyopathy is a low ejection fraction... under 50%.
after chest xray
People with restrictive cardiomyopathy usually feel tired and weak, and have shortness of breath, especially during exercise.
Yes, a dog with cardiomyopathy can still breed. However, there is a chance that the puppies may inherit this heart problem.