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Conditions: Cardiomyopathy

THIS IS the term used to describe any disease which affects the heart muscle. There are four main forms — dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM).

Dilated cardiomyopathy: The heart becomes enlarged and pumps less strongly. The heart muscle becomes weak, thin or floppy and is unable to pump blood efficiently, leading to heart failure (see page 6). The condition is often genetic and is diagnosed when other causes of heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension and valve disease, have been excluded.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This is characterised by an excessive thickening of the heart muscle. The cardiac muscle cells are usually aligned in parallel lines but here the cells become disorganised. These changes in…

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