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Definition

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged, and it cannot pump blood efficiently. The decreased heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems.

There are several different types of cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form.

See also:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Ischemic cardiomyopathy
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy

Alternative Names

Cardiomyopathy - dilated

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

There are many causes of dilated cardiomyopathy. Some of these are:

• Coronary artery disease (See: Ischemic cardiomyopathy)
• Poorly controlled high blood pressure
• Stress-induced cardiomyopathy
• Infections that involve the heart muscle, such as viruses, HIV infection, Chagas disease, and Lyme disease
• Alcohol (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) or cocaine abuse
• Medications
• Trace elements, such as lead, arsenic, or mercury
• Family history of cardiomyopathy (some cardiomyopathies run in families and have a genetic component)
• Inherited disorders such as muscular dystrophy
• Pregnancy (See: Peripartum cardiomyopathy)
• Atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, or other heart rhythm problems in which the heart beats very fast for a long period of time (called Tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy)
• End-stage kidney disease
• Autoimmune illnesses that involve the heart, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals (thiamine, calcium, magnesium)

This condition can affect anyone at any age. However, it is most common in adult men.

The most common causes of dilated cardiomyopathy in children are:

• Heart (coronary) disease
• Myocarditis
• Some infections
• Unknown cause (idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy)

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 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

Reviewer Info: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., 04/23/2009