Cardiomyopathy

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Heart, front view

Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in the heart muscle. It often occurs when the heart cannot pump as well as it should, or with other heart function problems.

Most patients with cardiomyopathy have heart failure.

Common types of cardiomyopathy include:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart becomes weak and large. It cannot pump blood well enough. Many different medical problems can cause this type of cardiomyopathy.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick. This thickening makes it harder for blood to leave the heart. This type of cardiomyopathy is usually passed down through families.
• Ischemic cardiomyopathy is caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood.
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a group of disorders in which the heart chambers are unable to properly fill with blood because the heart muscle is stiff.
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs during pregnancy or in the first 5 months afterward.

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Common causes of cardiomyopathy are:

• Alcoholism and cocaine use
• Amyloidosis
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Coronary artery disease (ischemic cardiomyopathy) -- most common cause
• End-stage kidney disease
• Genetic defects
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Infections due to viruses -- HIV, Lyme disease, Chagas disease
• Nutritional deficiencies (such as selenium, thiamine, and calcium)
• Pregnancy
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

For more information on the different types of cardiomyopathy, see also:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Ischemic cardiomyopathy
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Review Date: 05/23/2011
Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).