Cardiomyopathy

Question 1

What is cardiomyopathy?

Answer 1

a group of diseases affecting the myocardium

Question 2

What is the difference between primary and secondary cardiomyopathies?

Answer 2

• primary cardiomyopathies are heart disorders confined to the myocardium
• secondary cardiomyopathies are myocardial changes that occur with a variety of systemic disorders

Question 3

What are the three types of cardiomyopathies?

Answer 3

1) hypertrophic
2) dilated/congested
3) restrictive

Question 4

What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Answer 4

• excessive hypertrophy of ventricle
• increase in tissue mass causes ventricle chamber to decrease in size, causes interventricular septum to become thick
• limits how much blood can fill the ventricle

Question 5

What type of cardiomyopathy is most common?

Answer 5

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Question 6

What causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Answer 6

• half of cases idiopathic

- half genetic (autosomal dominant)

Question 7

What are the manifestations of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Answer 7

usually asymptomatic because systolic function remains intact

• dyspnea
• angina
• syncope
• palpitations
• sudden cardiac death

Question 8

What is congested/dilated cardiomyopathy?

Answer 8

heart is enlarged, especially ventricles, causes problems with contractility (heart contractions become weaker, lowers ejection fraction)

Question 9

What is congested/dilated cardiomyopathy associated with?

Answer 9

alcohol abuse

Question 10

What is restrictive cardiomyopathy?

Answer 10

• walls of ventricles become very rigid
• incomplete filling and emptying
• decreased cardiac output
• can lead to congestive heart failure