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

Cardiomyopathy - dilated

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)

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Hunt SA, Abraham WT, Chin MH, Fedlman AM, Francis GS, Ganiats TG, et al. ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Update the 2001 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Heart Failure): developed in collaboration with the American College of Chest Physicians and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation. 2005;112:1825-1852.

Dickstein K, Cohen-Solal A, Filippatos, G, McMurray JJV, Ponikowski P, Poole-Wilson PA, et al. ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2008: the Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2008 of the European Society of Cardiology, Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association of the ESC (HFA) and endorsed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). Eur Heart J. 2008;29:2388-2442.