Right ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Fourteen patients with predominantly right sided dilated cardiomyopathy were studied, of whom five died suddenly. The condition is characterised by male preponderance, syncope, ventricular tachycardia, which typically has a left bundle branch block pattern on the surface electrocardiogram, and right heart failure. The diagnosis should be considered in patients presenting with otherwise unexplained ventricular tachycardia or syncope; the diagnosis may be readily missed because of the nonspecific nature or absence of signs.