Current Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies for Specific Dilated Cardiomyopathies: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association

Abstract

DCM is an important cause of HF. Characterized by the common phenotype of ventricular dilation and depressed myocardial performance, its pathogenesis varies significantly, ranging from metabolic, endocrine,autoimmune, rheumatologic, infiltrative, genetic, and infectious causes to cardiotoxins. The rapidly expanding field of molecular genetics and diagnostic and biomarker strategies will likely allow us to capture an even better understanding of how cardiomyopathies develop.Demographics and treatment also vary significantly according to the cause. Treatment should be individualized and should target the underlying cause, in addition to the standard systolic HF therapies. In certain cases,with elimination of the cause and the appropriate treatment,reversal of myocardial remodeling and recovery of cardiac dysfunction can occur. Although current clinical research strategies usually target systolic HF as a group, future studies targeting specific cardiomyopathies will be critical for detection and treatment of specific cardiomyopathies.