Tuesday 16 November 2010

MRCP revision battle 51.3: Dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is exactly what it says it is: a dilated heart.


It is associated with:
  • alcohol excess
  • hypertension
  • coxsackie virus
  • HIV
  • doxorubicin
  • haemochromatosis
  • sarcoidosis

Possible presentations include fatigue, dyspnoea or AF.


Clinically there may be a displaced apex, S3 gallop, TR or MR


The ECG may show poor R wave progression


Treatment is as per heart failure.  ?cardiac transplant


Now on to coeliac disease...