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Dilated cardiomyopathy

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]; Sachin Shah, M.D.

Synonyms and keywords: Congestive cardiomyopathy; DCM

Overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]; Sachin Shah, M.D.

Overview

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition of the heart that causes dilation and impaired contraction of the left ventricle (or both ventricles). Impaired contraction is defined as a low ejection fraction (< 40%).

Historical Perspective

The etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy remained elusive for a long time that it was defined by the World Health Organization as a “heart muscle disorder of unknown cause”. However, recent research highlighted several genetic mutations that are associated with the condition. Therefore, the more recent definition by the American Heart Association was “a myocardial disorder with mechanical dysfunction, which usually exhibits inappropriate ventricular dilatation, due to a variety of etiologies that frequently are genetic”.

Pathophysiology

Familial traits and mitochondrial inheritance are thought to play a part in the development of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and the inheritance occurs in an autosomal dominant pattern. Connective tissue disease, and other diseases or toxins that disrupt the tissue of the heart are also implicated in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Causes

There are many causes of dilated cardiomyopathy. The most common cause is idiopathic in 50% of cases. The next most common cause is myocarditis which is responsible for 10% of cases. Other common causes include substance abuse, connective tissue disease, pregnancy, medications, nutritional deficiencies, infiltrative diseases and toxins.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Dilated cardiomyopathy is most likely to occur between the ages of 20-60, is three times as likely to occur in males over females, and is 2.5 times more likely to occur in African Americans.

Screening

The current guidelines recommend screening for dilated cardiomyopathy in individuals with 2 or 3 family members with primary dilated cardiomyopathy. Screening can be performed using electrocardiograms and echocardiography to measure the size and function of the left ventricle. An underlying genetic mutation in the 40 genes (currently assessed in familial dilated cardiomyopathy genetic testing) can be detected in 30 to 40% of DCM patients.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

There are several prognostic indicators when evaluating dilated cardiomyopathy, the most important one being ejection fraction. Complications as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy include heart failure, aortic and mitral valve regurgitation, emboli, edema, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest.

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Common symptoms in the setting of dilated cardiomyopathy include chest pain, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. A careful history is important in the setting of dilated cardiomyopathy in order to ascertain the etiology of the cardiomyopathy. The patient needs to be evaluated for a history of coronary artery disease, viral prodrome and infections, chemotherapy, HIV risk factors, pregnancy, medications, toxins, and substance abuse.

Laboratory Findings

The majority of dilated cardiomyopathy lab workup is targeted towards detecting the cause (such as thyroid function tests, toxicology screening, and genetic counselling) or assessing the cardiac complications of the condition. Other biomarkers that are under investigation include serum uric acid, Ca-125, soluble ST2, and Growth and differentiation factor-15.

MRI

In patients presenting with heart failure, where the etiology of the cardiac dysfunction is unclear, cardiac MRI can be a useful imaging modality. It can be used to distinguish the area of inflammation, to help in the diagnosis of myocarditis, to evaluate patients with suspected infiltrative diseases, and to evaluate dilated cardiomyopathy in the setting of normal coronary arteries.

Echocardiography

Echocardiography is the most common imaging finding used to diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy. Findings may include ventricular and atrial dilatation, increased left ventricular mass, a global reduction in systolic function, and focal wall motion abnormalities.

Other Diagnostic Studies

Endomyocardial biopsy has low sensitivy and the findings are also notoriously non-specific. The findings on biopsy usually involve findings of inflammation and specific pathogens are unlikely to be identified. There may be an increased yield to using MRI to target endomyocardial biopsy. Viral titiers (serologies) are often unhelpful and not routinely ordered in clinical practice.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Treatment should focus on correcting the underlying cause of the cardiomyopathy when possible. Treatment is also targeted towards preventing death, and ameliorating the symptoms of heart failure. Medications that have been proven to reduce mortality in patients with systolic heart failure are; ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, nitrates, and hydralazine. Diuretics and digoxin are used for symptom relief.

Surgery

There are several surgical options for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, depending on the severity of heart failure. Implantable cardiac defibrillators have been studied in these patient, and may help in preventing arrhythmias. Cardiac transplantation may be an option for patients with severe heart failure, and a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, may help to bridge a patient while awaiting transplantation. This device may also be used as a palliative measure, called a “destination LVAD” for patients with end-stage heart failure who are not suitable transplant candidates.

References

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Historical Perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]

Overview

The etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy remained elusive for a long time that it was defined by the World Health Organization as a “heart muscle disorder of unknown cause”. However, recent research highlighted several genetic mutations that are associated with the condition. Therefore, the more recent definition by the American Heart Association was “a myocardial disorder with mechanical dysfunction, which usually exhibits inappropriate ventricular dilatation, due to a variety of etiologies that frequently are genetic”.

Historical Perspective

  • In the 1980s, the World Health Organization defined cardiomyopathies as “heart muscle diseases of unknown cause”.[1] This definition reflected the poor understanding of disease etiology.
  • Over the past two decades, significant advances have been made in understanding the genetic etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy.
  • Mutations in over 80 genes have been associated with this condition.[2]
  • Therefore, more recently, the American Heart Association defined cardiomyopathies as “a heterogeneous group of diseases of the myocardium associated with mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction, which usually (but not invariably) exhibit inappropriate ventricular hypertrophy or dilatation, due to a variety of etiologies that frequently are genetic“.[3]
  • Recent studies have revealed the complexity of the genetic basis for dilated cardiomyopathy; however, much remains to be investigated to fully understand the etiology of this condition.

References

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Pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sachin Shah, M.D.; Jennifer Hall; Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]

Overview

Cardiomyopathies are defined as a heterogeneous group of diseases of the heart associated with a mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction that usually (but not always) exhibit inappropropriate ventricular hypertrophy or dilation and are due to a variety of causes that frequently are genetic. Phenotypic characteristics typically include ventricular chamber enlargement and systolic dysfunction with normal wall thickness. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy may experience a progressive decline in left ventricular contractile function, ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, conduction system problems, thromboembolism, sudden cardiac death and/or heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the third most common cause of heart failure.

Pathophysiology

Physiology

The normal physiology of myocardium can be understood as follows:

  • The myocardium is composed of specialized cardiac muscle cells with an ability not possessed by muscle tissue elsewhere in the body. Cardiac muscle, like other muscles, can contract, but it can also carry an action potential (i.e. conduct electricity), like the neurones that constitute nerves.
  • The cardiac myocyte is a specialized muscle cell, which is composed of bundles of myofibrils that contain myofilaments. The myofibrils have distinct micro-anatomical units, called “sarcomeres“, which are considered as the basic contractile units of the cardiac cell. The sarcomere is defined as the region of myofilament structures between two Z-lines. The distance between Z-lines ranges between 1.6 and 2.2 μ. The sarcomere is composed of thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments. The chemical and physical interactions between the actin and myosin shortens the sarcomere length and the myocyte to contract during the process of excitation-contraction coupling, which is known as the “sliding filament theory of muscle contraction“.[1]
Figure. Sarcomere, pictured with component proteins actin, myosin, titin, etc.

Pathogenesis

Dilated cardiomyopathy usually results from a failed physiological response to myocyte injury. Mocyte injury can generally end in one of three outcomes: Immediate myocyte cell death, delayed myocyte cell death (apoptosis), or pathological compensatory response.[2] The third outcome usually results in a cycle that occurs as follows:

  • Myocyte injury
  • Hypertrophy of the remaining myocytes to increased wall stress
  • Hyperadrenergic response
  • Dynamic remodeling of the interstitial myocardial skeleton (e.g. fibrosis).
  • Reduced diastolic function and increased ventricular dilatation.
  • Distortion of valvular apparatus
  • Increased ventricular afterload
  • Initiating the process of heart failure that causes more myocyte injury.[3]

Genetics

Our understanding of the role of genetics in dilated cardiomyopathy continues to grow. Inherited familial dilated cardiomyopathy has been associated with 50 mutations in genes encoding cytoskeletal, nucleoskeletal, mitochondrial and calcium handling proteins.[4] These mutations are listed below.

Genes Encoding Plasma Membrane Proteins

Gene Abbreviation
Laminin alpha 4 LAMA4[5]
Sarcoglycan delta SGCD[6][7]

Genes Encoding Cytoskeletal Proteins

Gene Abbreviation
Actin, alpha, cardiac muscle 1 ACTC1[8]
Actinin, alpha 2 ACTN2[9]
Ankyrin repeat domain 1 ANKRD1[10]
BCL2-associated athanogene 3 BAG3[11]
Cardiotropin CTF1[12]
Cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 CSRP3[9]
Desmin DES[13] [14]
Desmoplakin DSP[15][16][17]
DNAJ (Hsp40) homology, subfamily C, member 19 DNAJC19[18]
Dystrophin DMD[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]
Eyes absent homology 4 EYA4[26]

[27]

Four and a half LIM domains 2 FHL2[28]
Fukutin FKTN[29]
Lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 LAMP2[30]
LIM domain binding 3 LDB3[31][32][33][34]
Myosin binding protein C, cardiac MYBPC3[35]
Myosin, heavy chain 6, cardiac muscle, alpha MYH6[36]
Myosin, heavy chain 7, cardiac muscle, alpha MYH7[37]|

[38]

Nexilin (F actin binding protein) NEXN[39]
Presenilin 1 PSEN1[40]
Presenilin 2 PSEN2[40]
RNA binding motif protein 20 RBM20[41][42]
Sarcoglycan alpha SGCD[6][7]
Sodium channel, volatage-gated, type V, alpha subunit SCN5A[34][43][44][45][46][47]
Tafazzin TAZ[48][49]
Thymopoietin TMPO[50]
Troponin C type 1 (slow) TNNC1[51]
Troponin I type 3 (cardiac) TNNI3[52][53]
Troponin T type 2 (cardiac) TNNT2[38][54][51][55][56][57][58]
Tropomyosin 1 (alpha) TPM1[59][60]
Titin TTN[61][62][63]
Vinculin VCL[64][65]

Genes Encoding Calcium Handling Proteins

Gene Abbreviation
Phospholamban PLN[66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73]

Genes Encoding Mitochondrial Proteins

Gene Abbreviation
Succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit A, flavoprotein SDHA[74]

Genes Encoding Nuclear Proteins

Gene Abbreviation
ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C, member 9 ABCC9[75]
Lamin A/C LMNA[76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83]
Spectrin repeat containing, nuclear envelope 2 SYNE2[84]

The increase in whole exome and whole genome sequencing has significantly increased the number of rare variants that are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy [4]. A challenge in the field today is that many individuals without disease carry rare variants in their genome. Thus the task at hand is not in the sequencing but rather in the translation to define if the rare variants discovered are in fact pathophysiologic in nature. Secondly, evidence is accumulating that many patients with dilated cardiomyopathy may have many different mutations that contribute to or modify disease. [85]

Associated Conditions

A review of systems is also helpful in regards to connective tissue disease associated dilated cardiomyopathy. Some of the disease that can be associated with dilated cardiomyopathy are:

Gross Pathology

On gross pathological examination, the heart may show

  • Globular heart (markedly dilated ventricles > 4 cm at the level of papillary muscles)
  • Patchy fibrosis in the epicardium
  • Endocardial thickening (Cardiac fibroelastosis)
  • Ballooning of valve leaflets into the atria
  • Few patients show left ventricular non-compaction or minimally dilated ventricles.

Images shown below are Courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission. © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

Microscopic Pathology

On microscopic pathological examination, the heart may show

  • Variations in myocyte size
  • Interstitial fibrosis
  • Myofiber disarray
  • Transmural scars may be present.
  • Further, microscopic examination can verify the underlying cause as inflammation, amyloid, iron, and granulomas.[86]

References

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  55. Hershberger RE, Pinto JR, Parks SB, Kushner JD, Li D, Ludwigsen S; et al. (2009). “Clinical and functional characterization of TNNT2 mutations identified in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy”. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2 (4): 306–13. doi:10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.108.846733. PMC 2900844. PMID 20031601.
  56. Sfichi-Duke L, Garcia-Cazarin ML, Sumandea CA, Sievert GA, Balke CW, Zhan DY; et al. (2010). “Cardiomyopathy-causing deletion K210 in cardiac troponin T alters phosphorylation propensity of sarcomeric proteins”. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 48 (5): 934–42. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2010.01.005. PMC 2854196. PMID 20079745.
  57. Morimoto S, Lu QW, Harada K, Takahashi-Yanaga F, Minakami R, Ohta M; et al. (2002). “Ca(2+)-desensitizing effect of a deletion mutation Delta K210 in cardiac troponin T that causes familial dilated cardiomyopathy”. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 99 (2): 913–8. doi:10.1073/pnas.022628899. PMC 117405. PMID 11773635.
  58. Otten E, Lekanne Dit Deprez RH, Weiss MM, van Slegtenhorst M, Joosten M, van der Smagt JJ; et al. (2010). “Recurrent and founder mutations in the Netherlands: mutation p.K217del in troponin T2, causing dilated cardiomyopathy”. Neth Heart J. 18 (10): 478–85. PMC 2954300. PMID 20978592.
  59. Olson TM, Kishimoto NY, Whitby FG, Michels VV (2001). “Mutations that alter the surface charge of alpha-tropomyosin are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy”. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 33 (4): 723–32. doi:10.1006/jmcc.2000.1339. PMID 11273725.
  60. Lakdawala NK, Dellefave L, Redwood CS, Sparks E, Cirino AL, Depalma S; et al. (2010). “Familial dilated cardiomyopathy caused by an alpha-tropomyosin mutation: the distinctive natural history of sarcomeric dilated cardiomyopathy”. J Am Coll Cardiol. 55 (4): 320–9. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2009.11.017. PMC 3000630. PMID 20117437.
  61. Itoh-Satoh M, Hayashi T, Nishi H, Koga Y, Arimura T, Koyanagi T; et al. (2002). “Titin mutations as the molecular basis for dilated cardiomyopathy”. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 291 (2): 385–93. doi:10.1006/bbrc.2002.6448. PMID 11846417.
  62. Gerull B, Gramlich M, Atherton J, McNabb M, Trombitás K, Sasse-Klaassen S; et al. (2002). “Mutations of TTN, encoding the giant muscle filament titin, cause familial dilated cardiomyopathy”. Nat Genet. 30 (2): 201–4. doi:10.1038/ng815. PMID 11788824.
  63. Siu BL, Niimura H, Osborne JA, Fatkin D, MacRae C, Solomon S; et al. (1999). “Familial dilated cardiomyopathy locus maps to chromosome 2q31”. Circulation. 99 (8): 1022–6. PMID 10051295.
  64. Olson TM, Illenberger S, Kishimoto NY, Huttelmaier S, Keating MT, Jockusch BM (2002). “Metavinculin mutations alter actin interaction in dilated cardiomyopathy”. Circulation. 105 (4): 431–7. PMID 11815424.
  65. Vasile VC, Will ML, Ommen SR, Edwards WD, Olson TM, Ackerman MJ (2006). “Identification of a metavinculin missense mutation, R975W, associated with both hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy”. Mol Genet Metab. 87 (2): 169–74. doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2005.08.006. PMID 16236538.
  66. Haghighi K, Chen G, Sato Y, Fan GC, He S, Kolokathis F; et al. (2008). “A human phospholamban promoter polymorphism in dilated cardiomyopathy alters transcriptional regulation by glucocorticoids”. Hum Mutat. 29 (5): 640–7. doi:10.1002/humu.20692. PMID 18241046.
  67. Haghighi K, Kolokathis F, Gramolini AO, Waggoner JR, Pater L, Lynch RA; et al. (2006). “A mutation in the human phospholamban gene, deleting arginine 14, results in lethal, hereditary cardiomyopathy”. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 103 (5): 1388–93. doi:10.1073/pnas.0510519103. PMC 1360586. PMID 16432188.
  68. Schmitt JP, Kamisago M, Asahi M, Li GH, Ahmad F, Mende U; et al. (2003). “Dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure caused by a mutation in phospholamban”. Science. 299 (5611): 1410–3. doi:10.1126/science.1081578. PMID 12610310.
  69. Ha KN, Masterson LR, Hou Z, Verardi R, Walsh N, Veglia G; et al. (2011). “Lethal Arg9Cys phospholamban mutation hinders Ca2+-ATPase regulation and phosphorylation by protein kinase A.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 108 (7): 2735–40. doi:10.1073/pnas.1013987108. PMC 3041113. PMID 21282613.
  70. DeWitt MM, MacLeod HM, Soliven B, McNally EM (2006). “Phospholamban R14 deletion results in late-onset, mild, hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy”. J Am Coll Cardiol. 48 (7): 1396–8. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2006.07.016. PMID 17010801.
  71. Posch MG, Perrot A, Geier C, Boldt LH, Schmidt G, Lehmkuhl HB; et al. (2009). “Genetic deletion of arginine 14 in phospholamban causes dilated cardiomyopathy with attenuated electrocardiographic R amplitudes”. Heart Rhythm. 6 (4): 480–6. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2009.01.016. PMID 19324307.
  72. Haghighi K, Pritchard T, Bossuyt J, Waggoner JR, Yuan Q, Fan GC; et al. (2012). “The human phospholamban Arg14-deletion mutant localizes to plasma membrane and interacts with the Na/K-ATPase”. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 52 (3): 773–82. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2011.11.012. PMC 3376549. PMID 22155237.
  73. van der Zwaag PA, van Rijsingen IA, Asimaki A, Jongbloed JD, van Veldhuisen DJ, Wiesfeld AC; et al. (2012). “Phospholamban R14del mutation in patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: evidence supporting the concept of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy”. Eur J Heart Fail. 14 (11): 1199–207. doi:10.1093/eurjhf/hfs119. PMC 3475434. PMID 22820313.
  74. Levitas A, Muhammad E, Harel G, Saada A, Caspi VC, Manor E; et al. (2010). “Familial neonatal isolated cardiomyopathy caused by a mutation in the flavoprotein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase”. Eur J Hum Genet. 18 (10): 1160–5. doi:10.1038/ejhg.2010.83. PMC 2987458. PMID 20551992.
  75. Bienengraeber M, Olson TM, Selivanov VA, Kathmann EC, O’Cochlain F, Gao F; et al. (2004). “ABCC9 mutations identified in human dilated cardiomyopathy disrupt catalytic KATP channel gating”. Nat Genet. 36 (4): 382–7. doi:10.1038/ng1329. PMC 1995438. PMID 15034580.
  76. Małek LA, Labib S, Mazurkiewicz L, Saj M, Płoski R, Tesson F; et al. (2011). “A new c.1621 C > G, p.R541G lamin A/C mutation in a family with DCM and regional wall motion abnormalities (akinesis/dyskinesis): genotype-phenotype correlation”. J Hum Genet. 56 (1): 83–6. doi:10.1038/jhg.2010.137. PMID 21085127.
  77. Fatkin D, MacRae C, Sasaki T, Wolff MR, Porcu M, Frenneaux M; et al. (1999). “Missense mutations in the rod domain of the lamin A/C gene as causes of dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction-system disease”. N Engl J Med. 341 (23): 1715–24. doi:10.1056/NEJM199912023412302. PMID 10580070.
  78. Sébillon P, Bouchier C, Bidot LD, Bonne G, Ahamed K, Charron P; et al. (2003). “Expanding the phenotype of LMNA mutations in dilated cardiomyopathy and functional consequences of these mutations”. J Med Genet. 40 (8): 560–7. PMC 1735561. PMID 12920062.
  79. van der Kooi AJ, Bonne G, Eymard B, Duboc D, Talim B, Van der Valk M; et al. (2002). “Lamin A/C mutations with lipodystrophy, cardiac abnormalities, and muscular dystrophy”. Neurology. 59 (4): 620–3. PMID 12196663.
  80. Ho CY, Jaalouk DE, Vartiainen MK, Lammerding J (2013). “Lamin A/C and emerin regulate MKL1-SRF activity by modulating actin dynamics”. Nature. 497 (7450): 507–11. doi:10.1038/nature12105. PMC 3666313. PMID 23644458.
  81. Taylor MR, Fain PR, Sinagra G, Robinson ML, Robertson AD, Carniel E; et al. (2003). “Natural history of dilated cardiomyopathy due to lamin A/C gene mutations”. J Am Coll Cardiol. 41 (5): 771–80. PMID 12628721.
  82. Charniot JC, Pascal C, Bouchier C, Sébillon P, Salama J, Duboscq-Bidot L; et al. (2003). “Functional consequences of an LMNA mutation associated with a new cardiac and non-cardiac phenotype”. Hum Mutat. 21 (5): 473–81. doi:10.1002/humu.10170. PMID 12673789.
  83. Brodsky GL, Muntoni F, Miocic S, Sinagra G, Sewry C, Mestroni L (2000). “Lamin A/C gene mutation associated with dilated cardiomyopathy with variable skeletal muscle involvement”. Circulation. 101 (5): 473–6. PMID 10662742.
  84. Zhang Q, Bethmann C, Worth NF, Davies JD, Wasner C, Feuer A; et al. (2007). “Nesprin-1 and -2 are involved in the pathogenesis of Emery Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and are critical for nuclear envelope integrity”. Hum Mol Genet. 16 (23): 2816–33. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddm238. PMID 17761684.
  85. Golbus JR, Puckelwartz MJ, Fahrenbach JP, Dellefave-Castillo LM, Wolfgeher D, McNally EM (2012). “Population-based variation in cardiomyopathy genes”. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 5 (4): 391–9. doi:10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.112.962928. PMC 3495587. PMID 22763267.
  86. Jefferies JL, Towbin JA (2010). “Dilated cardiomyopathy”. Lancet. 375 (9716): 752–62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)62023-7. PMID 20189027.


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Causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sachin Shah, M.D. Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [2]

Overview

There are many causes of dilated cardiomyopathy. The most common cause is idiopathic in 50% of cases. The next most common cause is myocarditis which is responsible for 10% of cases. The high percentage of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy may be related to the difficulty in diagnosing viral myocarditis. Other common causes include substance abuse, connective tissue disease, pregnancy, medications, nutritional deficiencies, infiltrative diseases and toxins. There are varying degrees of severity of the disease. Some forms are reversible and some are irreversible; some patients may be completely asymptomatic and some may require cardiac transplantation.

Causes

There are several recorded causes for dilated cardiomyopathy. [1][2][3][4][5]

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular Alstrom syndrome, amyloidosis, Carvajal-Huerta syndrome, coronary artery disease, endocardial fibroelastosis, eosinophilic cardiomyopathy, hemochromatosis, hypersensitivity myocarditis, hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, Kawasaki disease, myocarditis, myxoma, peripartum cardiomyopathy, rheumatic fever, Salih myopathy, tachycardia, x-linked dilated cardiomyopathy
Chemical/Poisoning Beryllium, carbon monoxide poisoning, cobalt, heavy metals, lead, mercury, toxins
Dental No underlying causes
Dermatologic Carvajal-Huerta syndrome, dermatomyositis, familial cutaneous collagenoma, scleroderma
Drug Side Effect Adriamycin, amphetamines, anthracyclines, antiretroviral drugs, bleomycin, certolizumab pegol,chemotherapeutic agents, chloroquine, clozapine, cyclophosphamide , didanosine, disopyramide, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, imatinib mesylate, lithium , methysergide, mitoxantrone, paracetamol, peplomycin, phenothiazines, tacrolimus, trastuzumab, zalcitabine, zidovudine
Ear Nose Throat No underlying causes
Endocrine Acromegaly, amyloidosis, Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hemochromatosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, myxedema, pheochromocytoma, pituitary tumor
Environmental Heat stroke
Gastroenterologic Hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis, Whipple’s disease
Genetic Alstrom syndrome, Barth syndrome, Becker muscular dystrophy, desmin-related myopathy, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, X-linked, Erb dystrophy, Fabry’s disease, familial cutaneous collagenoma, Friedreich’s ataxia, hemochromatosis, Laing distal myopathy, limb girdle muscular dystrophy, McLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome, McLeod phenotype, Naxos disease, Salih myopathy
Hematologic Hemochromatosis, McLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome, McLeod phenotype
Iatrogenic Radiation
Infectious Disease Adenovirus, brucellosis, Chagas disease, Coxsackie virus, cryptococcosis, cytomegalovirus, diphtheria, echovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis, histoplasmosis, HIV infection, influenza virus, leptospirosis, Loa loa, Lyme disease, myocarditis, parvovirus, psittacosis, rheumatic fever, schistosomiasis, syphillis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, trypanosomiasis, typhoid fever, varicella
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic Becker muscular dystrophy, desmin-related myopathy, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, X-linked, Erb dystrophy, hemochromatosis, Laing distal myopathy, limb girdle muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, Salih myopathy
Neurologic Friedreich’s ataxia, giant cell arteritis, Refsum’s disease, sleep apnea
Nutritional/Metabolic Beriberi, carnitine, Fabry’s disease, glycogenosis type 2b, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, niacin, nutritional deficiencies, pellagra, Refsum’s disease, selenium deficiency, thiamine, triosephosphate isomerase deficiency
Obstetric/Gynecologic Childbirth, pregnancy
Oncologic Myxoma, pheochromocytoma, pituitary tumor
Ophthalmologic Giant cell arteritis
Overdose/Toxicity Alcohol abuse, cocaine, ethanol, substance abuse
Psychiatric No underlying causes
Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
Renal/Electrolyte Uremia
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy Amyloidosis, connective tissue disease, dermatomyositis, giant cell arteritis, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, serum sickness, systemic lupus erythematosis, transplant rejection
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma Electric shock
Urologic No underlying causes
Miscellaneous Heat stroke, hypothermia , idiopathic

Causes in Alphabetical Order

References

  1. Felker GM, Thompson RE, et al. Underlying causes and long-term survival in patients with initially unexplained cardiomyopathy. N Engl J Med 2000 Apr 13;342(14):1077-84.
  2. Japp AG, Gulati A, Cook SA, Cowie MR, Prasad SK (2016) The Diagnosis and Evaluation of Dilated Cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol 67 (25):2996-3010. DOI:10.1016/j.jacc.2016.03.590 PMID: 27339497
  3. Baris L, Cornette J, Johnson MR, Sliwa K, Roos-Hesselink JW (2019). “Peripartum cardiomyopathy: disease or syndrome?”. Heart. 105 (5): 357–362. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2018-314252. PMC 6613742 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 31693481.
  4. Weintraub RG, Semsarian C, Macdonald P (2017). “Dilated cardiomyopathy”. Lancet. 390 (10092): 400–414. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31713-5. PMID 28190577.
  5. Favalli V, Serio A, Grasso M, Arbustini E (2016). “Genetic causes of dilated cardiomyopathy”. Heart. 102 (24): 2004–2014. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308190. PMID 27634407.

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Differentiating Dilated cardiomyopathy from other Diseases

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]

Overview

Dilated cardiomyopathy should be differentiated from other causes of cardiac dysfunction, in particular acute coronary syndrome, other cardiomyopathies (hypertrophic, restrictive, and ARVC/D), myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac toxicities.

Differentiating Dilated Cardiomyopathy from other Diseases

Dilated cardiomyopathy should be differentiated from other causes of cardiac dysfunction, in particular acute coronary syndrome, other cardiomyopathies (hypertrophic, restrictive, and ARVC/D), myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac toxicities.[1][2][3][4]

Disorders Etiology Clinical Presentation Laboratory Findings Electrocardiogram Echocardiography
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
  • S2 at the base
  • Ventricular and atrial dilatation
  • Increased left ventricular mass
  • Global reduction in systolic function
  • Focal wall motion abnormalities
Acute Coronary Syndrome
  • Elevated blood troponin levels (after 6 hours of attack onset)
  • Elevated blood CK-MB levels
Acute Pericarditis
  • CBC: Increased WBCs count
  • Modest increase in CK-MB
  • Elevated CRP levels.
Amphetamine/Cocaine Cardiomyopathy
  • Illicit drug use
  • Drug and toxicology screen
  • Elevated serum CK (rhabdomyolysis)
  • Impaired electrolytes levels
  • Chamber dilation
  • Regional wall motion abnormalities
  • Increased left ventricular mass
  • Increased posterior wall thickness
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular

cardiomyopathy (ARVC/D)

Diagnostic criteria are based on:
  • Localised QRS widening
  • Dilated, hypokinetic right ventricle
  • Prominent apical trabeculae
  • Dilatation of RV outflow tract
Wet Beriberi
  • Inadequate thiamine intake (rice-based foods, alcoholism, and malnutrition)
  • Increased thiamine loss (protracted vomiting)
  • Inadequate absorption (after bariatric surgery or genetic mutation)
In advanced beriberi, heart failure occurs. In advanced beriberi, heart failure occurs.
  • Reduced ejection fraction.
  • Reduced fractional shortening
  • Large cardiac chamber sizes.
  • Disturbed regional wall motion


Cardiac Tamponade
  • Acute tamponade: Cardiogenic shock, hypotension, cold extremities, peripheral cyanosis, and decreased urine output.
  • Subacute tamponade: Peripheral edema with gradual progression to the aforementioned clinical picture.
  • Increased serum CK-MB and troponin
  • Cause-related investigations as serum inflammatory markers, diagnostic pericardiocentesis, and Gallium 67 imaging.
  • Pericardial effusion.
  • Swinging of the heart within the effusion
  • Reversal of right atrial and right ventricular diastolic transmural pressures.
  • Cardiac chamber collapse
Hyperthyroidism
  • Elevated T3 and T4 hormones
  • TSH: Reduced in 1ry and Elevated in 2ry hyperthyroidism.
  • Thyroid stimulating antibodies: Elevated only in Grave’s disease
The following may be present:
  • Left ventricular enhanced systolic function
  • Enhanced or impaired diastolic function
  • Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
    • Diastolic dysfunction
    • Septal wall thickness of >15 mm
    • Narrowing of the LV outflow tract
    • Abnormal systolic motion of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve
    Left ventricular noncompaction
    • Echocardiography
    • Steady-state free precession MRI, showing prominent trabeculations and a non-compacted to compacted (NC/C) myocardium ratio > 2.3
    Myocarditis
    Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Systemic diseases, such as
    • Low QRS voltages
    • Conduction abnormalities.
    • Wall and valvular thickening
    • Sparkling myocardium.

    References

    1. Amosova EN (1992). “[Differential diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy]”. Klin Med (Mosk). 70 (3–4): 14–9. PMID 1507837.
    2. Schultheiss HP, Fairweather D, Caforio ALP, Escher F, Hershberger RE, Lipshultz SE; et al. (2019). “Dilated cardiomyopathy”. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 5 (1): 32. doi:10.1038/s41572-019-0084-1. PMID 31073128.
    3. Gurevich MA, Gordienko BV (2003). “[Dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy: differential diagnosis]”. Klin Med (Mosk). 81 (9): 68–71. PMID 14598597.
    4. Gurevich MA, Gordienko BV (2003). “[Dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy: differential diagnosis]”. Klin Med (Mosk). 81 (9): 68–71. PMID 14598597.


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    Epidemiology and Demographics

    Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2] Sachin Shah, M.D.

    Overview

    The prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy is approximately 36 per 100,000 individuals worldwide. It has a high mortality rate of up to 50%. Dilated cardiomyopathy is most likely to occur between the ages of 20-60, is three times as likely to occur in males over females, and is 2.5 times more likely to occur in African Americans.

    Epidemiology and Demographics

    Incidence

    Prevalence

    Case-fatality rate/Mortality rate

    Age

    Gender

    Race

    References

    1. Dec GW, Fuster V. Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. N Engl J Med 1994 Dec 8;331(23):1564-75. PMID 7969328
    2. Robbins Basic Pathology, 7th edition. Kumar, Cotran, Robbins. ISBN 0-7216-9274-5
    3. Coughlin SS, Labenberg JR, Tefft MC. Black-white differences in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: the Washington DC Dilated Cardiomyopathy Study. Epidemiology. 1993;4:165-72. PMID 8452906

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    Risk Factors

    Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]

    Overview

    Common risk factors in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy include genetic inheritance, nutritional deficiencies, substance abuse, occupational exposure to toxins, and viral infections.

    Risk Factors

    Common risk factors in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy include genetic inheritance, nutritional deficiencies, substance abuse, occupational exposure to toxins, and viral infections.[1][2][3][4]

    Common Risk Factors

    Less Common Risk Factors

    References

    1. Felker GM, Thompson RE, Hare JM, Hruban RH, Clemetson DE, Howard DL; et al. (2000). “Underlying causes and long-term survival in patients with initially unexplained cardiomyopathy”. N Engl J Med. 342 (15): 1077–84. doi:10.1056/NEJM200004133421502. PMID 10760308.
    2. McNally EM, Mestroni L (2017). “Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Genetic Determinants and Mechanisms”. Circ Res. 121 (7): 731–748. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.309396. PMC 5626020. PMID 28912180.
    3. Lipshultz SE (1998). “Dilated cardiomyopathy in HIV-infected patients”. N Engl J Med. 339 (16): 1153–5. doi:10.1056/NEJM199810153391609. PMID 9770563.
    4. Li X, Nie Y, Lian H, Hu S (2018). “Histopathologic features of alcoholic cardiomyopathy compared with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy”. Medicine (Baltimore). 97 (39): e12259. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012259. PMC 6181549. PMID 30278496.

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    Screening

    Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]

    Overview

    The current guidelines recommend screening for dilated cardiomyopathy in individuals with 2 or 3 family members with primary dilated cardiomyopathy. Screening can be performed using electrocardiograms and echocardiography to measure the size and function of the left ventricle. An underlying genetic mutation in the 40 genes (currently assessed in FCD genetic testing) can be detected in 30 to 40% of FCD patients.

    Screening

    Screening is only recommended in individuals who have a family history of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (FDC).

    References

    1. Fatkin D, members of the CSANZ Cardiac Genetic Diseases Council Writing Group (2011). “Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of familial dilated cardiomyopathy”. Heart Lung Circ. 20 (11): 691–3. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2011.07.008. PMID 21885340.
    2. McNally EM, Golbus JR, Puckelwartz MJ (2013). “Genetic mutations and mechanisms in dilated cardiomyopathy”. J Clin Invest. 123 (1): 19–26. doi:10.1172/JCI62862. PMC 3533274. PMID 23281406.
    3. Haas J, Frese KS, Peil B, Kloos W, Keller A, Nietsch R; et al. (2015). “Atlas of the clinical genetics of human dilated cardiomyopathy”. Eur Heart J. 36 (18): 1123–35a. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu301. PMID 25163546.
    4. Sweet M, Taylor MR, Mestroni L (2015). “Diagnosis, prevalence, and screening of familial dilated cardiomyopathy”. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs. 3 (8): 869–876. doi:10.1517/21678707.2015.1057498. PMC 4988677. PMID 27547593.

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    Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

    Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[2]

    Overview

    The natural history of dilated cardiomyopathy has significantly improved following the advances in medical therapy and introduction of cardiac resynchronization and implantable defibrillators. However, patients with DCM are still prone to complications as heart failure, arrhythmias, arterial embolism and sudden cardiac death. There are several prognostic indicators when evaluating dilated cardiomyopathy, the most important one being ejection fraction. Complications as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy include heart failure, aortic and mitral valve regurgitation, emboli, edema, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest.

    Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

    Natural History

    • Dilated cardiomyopathy is the final common pathway for different etiologic mechanisms.
    • During the initial visit of a patient with DCM, the clinician should in fact consider all the potentially reversible causes of left ventricular dysfunction, likely to benefit from specific therapeutic intervention.
    • The onset of DCM can be at times indistinguishable from other conditions which can be specifically recovered by correcting the underlying problem.[1]
    • The natural history of DCM has thus significantly changed in the last few years, particularly after the introduction and utilization of ACE-inhibitors, betablockers, anti-aldosterone drugs and nonpharmacological treatments, such as cardiac resynchronization (CRT) and implantable defibrillator (ICD).[2]
    • However, still about 2% of patients with DCM died of sudden cardiac death after the diagnosis and the risk of other complications as heart failure, arterial infarctions, and valvular insufficiency remains high.[3]

    Complications

    The following complications may occur in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.[3]

    Prognosis

    There are many prognostic factors which can be evaluated in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy. The most important prognostic indicator is a decreased ejection fraction, in addition increased left ventricular size and right ventricular dilation are independent indicators of a poor prognosis. As is in most types of heart failure a poor NYHA functional class and increased PASP (>35mmHg) are also poor prognostic indicators. Other findings that infer a poor prognosis are as follows: Maximal O2 uptake of < 12mL/kg / minute on exercise testing, LBBB (left bundle branch block), non sustained ventricular tachycardia, syncope, hyponatremia with a serum sodium less than 135, elevated norepinephrine, ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) and renin levels (not routinely measured in clinical practice), elevated PCWP (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) > 18mmHg and low cardiac index < 2.5L/min/m^2.[4][5]

    References

    1. Di Lenarda A, Pinamonti B, Mestroni L, Salvi A, Sabbadini G, Gregori D; et al. (2004). “[How the natural history of dilated cardiomyopathy has changed. Review of the Registry of Myocardial Diseases of Trieste]”. Ital Heart J Suppl. 5 (4): 253–66. PMID 15185463.
    2. Merlo M, Gentile P, Naso P, Sinagra G (2017). “The natural history of dilated cardiomyopathy: how has it changed?”. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 18 Suppl 1: e161–e165. doi:10.2459/JCM.0000000000000459. PMID 27828827.
    3. 3.0 3.1 Zecchin M, Merlo M, Pivetta A, Barbati G, Lutman C, Gregori D; et al. (2012). “How can optimization of medical treatment avoid unnecessary implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantations in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy presenting with “SCD-HeFT criteria?. Am J Cardiol. 109 (5): 729–35. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2011.10.033. PMID 22176998.
    4. Castelli G, Fornaro A, Ciaccheri M, Dolara A, Troiani V, Tomberli B; et al. (2013). “Improving survival rates of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in Tuscany over 3 decades: impact of evidence-based management”. Circ Heart Fail. 6 (5): 913–21. doi:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.112.000120. PMID 23888044.
    5. Hagar A, Pu XB, Chen SJ, Shah JP, Chen M (2019). “Clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a tertiary center experience”. J Geriatr Cardiol. 16 (4): 320–328. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2019.04.004. PMC 6503477 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 31105752.

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    Diagnosis

    Diagnosis

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