Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(1):32-42

Dilated cardiomyopathy - current opinions on classification, diagnosis and treatment

Kučera L¹, Chudý M¹, Vojvodová M², Gonçalvesová E¹

¹ Kardiologická klinika LFUK a NÚSCH, a. s., Bratislava

² Ambulancie klinickej genetiky, NÚSCH, a. s., Bratislava, Slovenská republika

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second most common cause of heart failure after coronary heart disease. In approximately 35% of patients, it is possible to identify the gene causing or related to the development of DCM. In the remaining patients, myocarditis, toxins or a combination of various insults are the cause. In most patients, the cause of DCM remains unclear. In recent years, we have witnessed the growth of knowledge about the genetics of DCM, which brings new possibilities for the management of patients and their relatives. Systematic screening of first-degree relatives with idiopathic and familial DCM is part of standard specialized care for patients with cardiomyopathies. Examination of patients with DCM with advanced imaging techniques brings new information about the prognosis of the disease and helps to identify patients with specific forms of DCM requiring specific treatment procedures. In the future, we can expect not only better and earlier diagnosis, from which mainly asymptomatic family members will benefit, but also possibly new individualized methods of treatment of DCM.

Keywords: dilated cardiomyopathy; genetics; imaging techniques; management

Published: January 1, 2023  Show citation