DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Course overview

DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY (DCM) IS A DISEASE OF THE HEART MUSCLE CHARACTERIZED BY ENLARGEMENT AND DILATION OF ONE OR BOTH OF THE VENTRICLES ALONG WITH IMPAIRED CONTRACTILITY DEFINED AS LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION (LVEF) LESS THAN 40%. BY DEFINITION, PATIENTS HAVE SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE OVERT SYMPTOMS OF HEART FAILURE. THIS DISEASE PROCESS CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS EITHER PRIMARY OR SECONDARY DCM. PRIMARY DCM IS CONSIDERED IDIOPATHIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS CAN ONLY BE MADE AFTER EXCLUDING SECONDARY CAUSES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSES OF DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY, ITS PRESENTATION, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.