Dilated cardiomyopathy: a review of literature on clinical status and meta-analysis of diagnostic and clinical management

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most prevalent phenotype. It is a frequent cause of heart failure and the primary indication for heart transplantation. Although it has specific standardized criteria for diagnosis, the criteria establish DCM as a non-specific phenotype caused by genetic factors, environmental factors or a combination of both. The diagnosis consists of a wide range of other cardiomyopathies that lead to a dilated ventricular wall, which has made differential diagnosis challenging and many studies providing varying findings. The lack of specific clinical management guidelines has influenced the use of general management concepts of LV dysfunction and heart failure, which vary between studies. This paper reviews current evidence on DCM to provide a comprehensive understanding of its clinical manifestations, etiology, diagnosis and clinical management.