Dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Familial DCM has diverse genetic causes and is an important cause of HF and SCD. An important minority of patients with familial DCM will present with associated clinical features, including conduction disease, arrhythmia, and skeletal myopathy. Evidenced-based medical and device therapies improve clinical outcomes. The application of genetic testing has begun to inform the clinical management of these patients, however, it has not yet dramatically influenced therapy. © 2012 American Heart Association, Inc.