Cardiomyopathy: An Issue of Cardiology Clinics

Cardiomyopathy is a set of diseases which affect the muscles of the heart. It is of various types - dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restricted cardiomyopathy, takotsubo cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Each of these affects the cardiac muscle in a different way. The heart muscle enlarges and thickens in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, while ventricles enlarge and weaken in dilated cardiomyopathy. Early on in the development of the disease, there are few or no symptoms. Gradual fatigue, chest pain, arrhythmias, and swelling of the feet or abdomen can be observed. Cardiomyopathies often lead to progressive heart failure-related disability or cardiovascular death. A cardiomyopathy can be detected through a physical exam, ECG, stress test, blood test or echocardiogram. Treatment differs for different cardiac conditions. To manage fatal heart rhythms, defibrillators may be used, while for severe heart failure ventricular assist devices (VADs) can be used. Medications and implanted pacemakers are used to manage slow heart rates. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathy. It presents this complex subject in the most comprehensible and easy to understand language. This book will help new researchers by foregrounding their knowledge in this condition.