Neonatal cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the myocardium and causes mechanical or electrical cardiac dysfunction. The clinical presentation of neonates who have cardiomyopathies is varied, as are the possible causes of the condition and the severity of disease presentation. In our experience, the best approach for evaluating a neonate who has a potential cardiomyopathy is to identify the possible type of cardiomyopathy and subsequently determine the potential cause(s). This review provides a summary of the clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and electrocardiac findings of an infant who has hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy. This summary also provides a detailed overview of the diseases and syndromes associated with both types of cardiomyopathy. © 2012 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.