Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy with unknown etiology characterised by progressive left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction. Pathologically, there is increase in the size and weight of the heart. There is ventricular dilatation with near normal wall thickness. The myocardial systolic dysfunction is out of portion to the fibrosis.

The incidence of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy varies from 3-10 cases per 100,000 population. Death from progressive pump failure occurs at the rate of about  25% in first year, 35-40% in two years and upto 40-80% over five years. Stabilization may occur in about 20% of cases, but complete recovery is rare in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.