Lecture 12: Cardiomyopathy Flashcards
Define cardiomyopathy.
- disorders characterized by morphologically and functionally abnormal myocardium in absence of any other disease that could cause the observed “phenotype” (presentation i assume).
- Excludes cardiac dysfunction caused by structural heart disease.
Structural HD: CAD, primary valve disease, and HTN
What are the 3 classifications of cardiomyopathy?
- Dilated
- Hypertrophic
- Restrictive
- Arrhythmogenic RV CM/dysplasia (ARVC/D)
- unclassified CM
can be further broken into: intrinstic v extrinsic. primary v. secondary. ischemic v nonischemic.
What part of the heart is primarily affected in cardiomyopathy?
LV function
causes dysfunction in systole/diastole or both. presentation varies from asymptomatic to CHF and cardiac arrest
What is the initial imaging modality for cardiomyopathy?
Echocardiography
can also get nuclear imaging, coronary angiography w left ventriculography, and cardiac MRI.
What does systolic dysfunction eventually lead to?
- Decease in myocardial contractility and reduction in LVEF
- Compensatory LV enlargement
- compensatory Higher stroke volume
- HF develops once this fails
What characterizes systolic dysfunction?
- Decreases in myocardial contractility
- Reduction in LVEF
- Heart will compensate by enlarging LV.
What characterizes diastolic dysfunction?
- Abnormal LV relaxation and filling
- Elevated filling pressures
- Can occur with/without systolic dysfunction.
- However, if there is systolic dysfunction, it will always occur.
difficult to quantify on echo therefore often missed or underestimated
What is myocarditis?
- Inflammatory, infiltrative process of myocardium due to both infectious and non-infectious causes.
- results in Necrosis and/or degeneration of myocytes
- Leads to myocardial dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy.
may be acute, subacute, or chronic
What are the two main mechanisms by which myocarditis occurs?
- Host-mediated: direct cytotoxic effect of the causative agent.
- Autoimmune-mediated: secondary immune response.
What occurs in the acute phase of myocarditis?
- First 2 weeks
- Myocyte death due to causative agent.
What occurs in the chronic phase of myocarditis?
- After 2 weeks
- Result of inappropriate, overactive immune response.
What are the primary viral causes of myocarditis?
- Adenovirus
- Coxsackie B virus
- CMV
- COVID-19
What are the primary toxins that cause myocarditis?
- Alcohol
- Anthracyclines
- Cocaine
Who is myocarditis MC in?
20-50 y/o men
men have higher mortality rate with this too. frequency of myocarditis is poorly defined d/t variability of clinical presentation
What typically precipitates infective myocarditis?
- Acute febrile illness/respiratory infection
Will develop a few days or weeks after.
no known underlying cardiac pathology
What are the classic symptoms associated with infective myocarditis?
- SOB
- Pleural/pericardial chest pain
- Fever/chills
- HF
- Arrhythmias (palps, syncope, sudden death)
can be gradual or abrupt with decreased CO, shock and severely depressed LV systolic fxn
What PE findings are we looking for in infective myocarditis?
- Pericardial friction rub
- S3/S4
- Mitral or tricuspid regurg murmur
- Volume overload
What are the important initial diagnostic tests to order for suspected infective myocarditis?
- EKG - sinus tach, dysrhythmias, PVCs, ST-T changes
- Cardiac Biomarkers (elevated troponins)
- CXR (non-specific but could see cardiomeg,pulm edema, pleural effusion)
- Transthoracic echo - CRITICAL
What labs are appropriate to order for suspected infective myocarditis?
- CRP
- ^ESR
- CBC (eosinophilia)
- +/- Rheumatology workup
- Serum viral antibody titers
- BNP (probs >100)
what other imaging can be used in suspected infective myocarditis
cardiac MRI
helps assess extent od inflammation, myocyte necrosis and scarring. also shows ventricular size/shape, wall motion abnormalities, and pericardial effusion
Can suggest myocarditis, but sensitivity and specificity are limited and time-dependent
How is infective myocarditis concretely diagnosed?
Histologic evidence via endomyocardial biopsy.
Only do this if there is a high probability it will change management.
rarely used because seldom changes management
according to the AHA/ACC when is a EMB reccomended and when is it suggested
What is the primary treatment for myocarditis?
- Consult cardiology
- LVEF <40% = ACEI and BB
- NSAIDS for pain (colchicine)
- arrhythmic management
trials using immunosuppression, steroids, IVIG and antivirals have shown no benefit
what are typical causes of noninfective myocarditis
- medications
- illicit drugs
- toxic substances
What is the primary treatment for noninfectious myocarditis?
If LVEF >40%, Monitor until HF symptoms start occurring.
Once HF symptoms occur, refer to cardiology.
What is the #1 reason for heart transplant?
Dilated cardiomyopathy
What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
- LVEF < 40%
- No CAD or valvular disease
- Dilation and impaired contraction of one or both ventricles, predominantly the LV
Regurgitation may occur due to the stretch of mitral/aortic valves.
Who is dilated cardiomyopathy MC in?
3x more common in Black patients
once symptoms manifest, mortality rate is 50% at 5 years
What is the primary cause of dilated cardiomyopathy?
Idiopathic!!
could also be:
* infectious
* excessive alcohol
* genetic
* systemic disorders
* peripartum
* endocrinopathies
* tachycardia induced
* arrhythmia associated
what viruses can be infectious causes of dilated cardiomyopathy
- Parvo B19
- herpes
- coxsackievirus
- influenza
- adenovirus
- CMV
- HIV
What are the two main diseases that can lead to DCM?
- Chagas disease (protozoan infection. leading cause of DCM in central and south america)
- Lyme disease (manifests as conduction abnormality. may cause myocardial dysfunction d/t myocarditis)
Trypanosoma cruzi