Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Question 1

Cardiomyopathy: Define:

Answer 1

Disease of heart muscle
Harder to pump blood to body
Myocardium -> thickens, rigid, enlarges

Question 2

Cardiomyopathy: Aetiology: SHAH

Answer 2

Sarcoidosis
Haemochromotasis
Alcohol
Hypertension

Question 3

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Define:
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: Define:
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Define:

Answer 3

Dilated: Enlarged muscle - left ventricle stretched and weakened
Restrictive: Rigid
Hypertrophic: Thick

Question 4

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Define/Path

Answer 4

Left ventricle stretched and weakened
Reduced pumping ability
Prevents Relaxation & Filling

Question 5

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Aetiology:

Answer 5

Unknown

Question 6

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Associations:

Answer 6

Alcohol
Coxsackie B Virus
Wet Beri Beri
Doxorubicin

Question 7

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms:

Answer 7

Breathlessness
Orthopnoea
Syncope
Ankle Oedema
Cough
Fatigue
Weight Gain

Question 8

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Signs

Answer 8

Raised pulse - Thready - irregular in AF
Atrial Fibrilation
Raised JVP 
Reduced BP
RVF
Displaced Apex Beat
Oedema - Pulmonary/Ankle/Sacral
Hepatomegaly
Ascities
Mitral/Tricuspid Regurgitation
Pleural Effusion
Jaundice.

Question 9

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Investigations:

Answer 9

Bloods: FBC, U&E, Plasma, Brain Naturetic Peptide
CXR: Cardiomegaly, Pul Oedema
Chest MRI
Coronary Angiogram
ECG: tachycardia, non-specific T-wave, poor R wave progression
ECHO: Dilated heart, low Ej%, MR, TR, LV thrombus.

Question 10

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Treatment:

Answer 10

Spironolactone
ACEI
Anticoagulation
Diuretics
Digoxin
Beta Blockers
Bed Rest
ICDs
Cardiac Transplantation

Question 11

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Advice to patient:

Answer 11

Weight management 
Reduce Salt & Fluid Intake 
Remove exacerbating drugs - NSAIDS 
Correct Anaemia 
Alcoholics at greater risk of Dilated Cardiomyopathy.