Idiopathic cardiomyopathy

Alternative names:

cardiomyopathy - idiopathic

Definition:

A group of disorders with unknown or no identifiable cause, in which the heart muscle is weakened and cannot pump blood efficiently. This causes decreased heart function that affects the lungs, liver, and other body systems.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Cardiomyopathy has many causes, including nutritional deficiencies, deposits in the heart muscle associated with medical conditions, anemia, stress, viral infections (rare), alcoholism, coronary artery disease, and others.

In idiopathic cardiomyopathy, there is no identifiable cause, although it is suspected to be an end stage of myocarditis. It can affect all ages and both sexes, but is most common in adult men.

Risk factors include obesity, personal or family history of cardiac disorders such as myocarditis, use of certain medications, smoking, and alcoholism. Cardiomyopathy also occurs when there is damage to the heart, resulting in scarring (fibrosis) or deposits in the tissues of the heart muscle.

Symptoms often develop gradually and usually include symptoms of right heart failure and/or left heart failure.