Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Cardiomyopathy - dilated


Symptoms

Symptoms of heart failure are most common. Usually, they develop slowly over time. However, sometimes symptoms start very suddenly and are severe. Common symptoms are:

  • Shortness of breath with activity or after lying down (or being asleep) for a while, or in infants while feeding
  • Swelling of feet and ankles (in adults)
  • Irregular or rapid pulse
  • Fatigue, weakness, faintness
  • Swelling of the abdomen (in adults)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Cough

Other symptoms may include:

  • Chest pain
  • Decreased alertness or concentration
  • Failure to thrive (in children)
  • Low urine production
  • Need to urinate at night (in adults)
  • Shock

Signs and tests

Cardiomyopathy is usually discovered when the doctor is examining and testing you for the cause of heart failure.

  • Tapping over the heart with the fingers and feeling the area may indicate that the heart is enlarged.
  • 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 bulging.

A number of laboratory tests may be done to determine the cause:

  • Antinuclear antibody (ANA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and other tests to diagnose autoimmune illnesses
  • Antibody test to identify infections such as Lyme disease and HIV
  • Serum TSH and T4 test to identify thyroid problems

Children will have:

  • Poor growth
  • Pale skin
  • Difficulty feeding
  • Weak pulses in the legs and arms

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

  • Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
  • Cardiac stress tests
  • Cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography
  • Chest CT scan or MRI of the heart
  • Chest x-ray
  • Nuclear heart scan (MUGA, RNV)

Other tests may include:

  • ECG
  • Heart biopsy

Lab tests vary depending on the suspected cause.


Review Date: 05/17/2010
Reviewed By: 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)