Dilated cardiomyopathy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, section through the middle

Heart, front view

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Alternative Names:

Cardiomyopathy - dilated
Symptoms:

swelling of feet and ankles
swelling of the abdomen
pronounced neck veins
loss of appetite
shortness of breath, especially with activity
shortness of breath which occurs after lying down for a while
fatigue, weakness, faintness
sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
pulse may feel irregular or rapid
decreased alertness or concentration
cough
low urine production
need to urinate at night

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Note: Symptoms of heart failure often develop gradually. Some chest pain may also be associated with this disease.

Signs and tests:

Cardiomyopathy is usually discovered on examination and testing for the cause of heart failure. Tapping the area with the fingers and feeling the area may indicate enlargement of the heart. Listening to the chest with a stethoscope reveals lung crackles, heart murmur, or other abnormal sounds. The liver may be enlarged. Neck veins may be distended.

Heart enlargement, congestion of the lungs, decreased movement/functioning of the heart, or heart failure may show on:

Echocardiogram
Chest x-ray
Chest CT scan
Cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography
Nuclear heart scan (MUGA, RNV)

An ECG may show conduction disturbances or arrhythmias, and may indicate enlargement of the ventricles. Heart biopsy may be helpful to distinguish dilated cardiomyopathy from other diseases. Lab tests vary depending on the suspected cause.

References:

Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005: 1659-1692.

Marx J. Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002: 1142-1143.