Cardiac: Basic Pathology and Clinical Aspects

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle.

It can be classified as primary or secondary and there are three main types of cardiomyopathy:

1. Dilated
2. Hypertrophic
3. Restrictive

 

Click on the Dilated cardiomyopathy tab above to continue.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common form of cardiomyopathy. In this disorder, the ventricle becomes enlarged (dilated) and its ability to pump becomes less forceful.

The other types of cardiomyopathy are shown opposite.

Causes

In the majority of cases of DCM the cause is not known. However, some factors are implicated to cause or contribute to disease in individual circumstances. These factors include:

• Genetic/familial
  
• Viral infection
  
• Auto-immune disease
  
• Excessive alcohol consumption
  
• Exposure to toxic compounds

Symptoms

The symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, tiredness, palpitations and syncope.

 

Click on the Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy tab above to continue.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy involves abnormal growth or thickening of heart muscle (particularly the left ventricle). Due to thickening, the heart tends to stiffen and the size of the left ventricle may shrink, interfering with the heart's ability to deliver blood to all part of the body.

Causes

The cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not yet known. In the majority of cases the condition is inherited.

Symptoms

These include shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitation, light-headedness and blackouts. Can precipitate severe, even fatal tachyarrythmias.

Click on the Restrictive cardiomyopathy tab above to continue.

In restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) the myocardium becomes rigid and less elastic, interfering with the expansion and filling of the ventricles with blood between contractions.

Causes

RCM can be idiopathic or secondary to cardiac and systemic disorders such as:

• Endomyocardial fibrosis
• Amyloidosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Gaucher's disease
• Mucopolysaccharidoses
• Carcinoid syndrome

 

Symptoms

These include fatigue, shortness of breath and oedema.

 

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