| Dilated cardiomyopathy | D | Dilated cardiomyopathy | Dilated cardiomyopathy | | English | Cardiology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Heart | Cardiovascular system | Conditions and diseases | Adult (19+) | NA | | 2018-10-26T04:00:00Z | | Jennifer Russell, MD, FRCPC;Aamir Jeewa, MD, FAAP, FRCP(C) | | | | 10.6000000000000 | 43.1000000000000 | 663.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>Learn about dilated cardiomyopathy, a stretching of the heart muscle that usually results in the heart being unable to pump effectively.</p> | <figure class="swf-asset-c-80"><span class="asset-image-title">Dilated cardiomyopathy</span>
<div class="asset-animation"> src="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Style%20Library/akh/swfanimations/swf.html?swffile=Dilated_Cardiomyopathy_MED_ANI_EN.swf" </div>
<figcaption class="asset-image-caption">With this condition, the heart muscle becomes stretched, increasing the size of the ventricular chamber. The heart muscle weakens, and it becomes difficult for the heart to contract and pump blood to the body.</figcaption> </figure>
<p>Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common type of cardiomyopathy in both children and adults. It is estimated that DCM occurs in 36.5 out of every 100,000 children. DCM may be underreported because it is often not detected.</p><p>In DCM, the heart muscle is weakened and becomes overstretched, increasing the size of the
<a href="/Article?contentid=1577&language=English">ventricular chamber</a>. This reduces the ability of the heart to contract. In severe cases, this results in not enough blood circulating to the body. When the ventricles do not squeeze the blood out of the heart, some blood can back up into the lungs.</p><p>Sometimes cardiomyopathy causes <a href="/Article?contentid=890&language=English">abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)</a> because the heart’s electrical signal is not conducted properly through the overstretched muscle.</p><p>In some cases, the kidneys respond to the decreased heart function by retaining fluid and sodium. The fluid and sodium can build up in the legs, ankles, feet, lungs and other organs.</p> | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>With dilated cardiomyopathy, the muscle in the heart stretches and increases the size of the ventricular chamber, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the body.</li><li>Familial dilated cardiomyopathy occurs through many generations and accounts for up to 40% of people with this condition.</li><li>Symptoms for this condition are similar to congestive heart failure and may be difficult to treat.</li></ul> | <h2>Symptoms of DCM in babies and children</h2><p>The presentation of DCM can vary from having minimal symptoms to end-stage heart failure and shock.</p><p>Symptoms of DCM are often similar to those of congestive heart failure, including: </p><ul><li>shortness of breath</li><li>tiring easily</li><li>difficulty tolerating physical exertion</li><li>fainting</li><li>sweating at rest</li><li>sudden death (less common). </li></ul><p>In many cases, the heart will also increase in size and the liver can enlarge.</p><p>DCM can cause symptoms in babies and young children such as: </p><ul><li>difficulty breathing</li><li>puffiness</li><li>poor appetite </li><li>difficulty feeding. </li></ul><p>DCM can also occur without any symptoms until the heart becomes very weak. </p> | <h2>Causes of DCM</h2><p>Dilated cardiomyopathy can be passed down from parent to child. When dilated cardiomyopathy occurs through multiple generations in a family, it is called familial dilated cardiomyopathy. About 30% to 40% of cases of DCM are traced to genetic changes.</p> | | <h2>Treatment of DCM</h2><p>Children with DCM may have to take medicine to remove extra fluid out of their body. These medications are called diuretics. Other medications are used to stabilize or improve the amount of work the heart has to do to pump blood. These medications are called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.</p><p>Some children will also be given beta blockers. Beta blockers are medications that work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). They slow the heart down and cause it to beat more slowly and steadily.</p><p>Depending on your child's condition, other medications may also be necessary to help the heart squeeze better. These are typically given by intravenous (IV). Therapies to support feeding and <a href="/Article?contentid=977&language=English">CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)</a> may also be beneficial.</p><p>In some cases, other procedures like implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) and ventricular assist devices, which help support cardiac output, may be used. </p><p>In other cases, patients with DCM may require a
<a href="/Article?contentid=1672&language=English">heart transplant</a>.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cardiomyopathie dilatée | C | Cardiomyopathie dilatée | Dilated Cardiomyopathy | | French | Cardiology | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Heart | Cardiovascular system | Conditions and diseases | Adult (19+) | NA | | 2010-01-15T05:00:00Z | | Jennifer Russell, MD, FRCPC | | | | 12.0000000000000 | 37.0000000000000 | 255.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>Informez-vous sur la myocardiopathie dilatée, un étirement du muscle cardiaque qui empêche le cœur de pomper le sang efficacement.</p> | <p> Cette page explique comment la myocardiopathie dilatée peut empêcher la distribution du sang vers le corps. </p> | <h2> À retenir </h2>
<ul><li> Avec la myocardiopathie dilatée, le muscle du cœur est étiré, ce qui augmente la taille de la chambre ventriculaire et le cœur a donc du mal à pomper le sang vers le corps. </li>
<li> La myocardiopathie dilatée peut se transmettre dans une famille sur plusieurs générations et jusqu’à 40 % des cas sont d’origine génétique. </li>
<li>Les symptômes de cette maladie sont semblables à l’insuffisance cardiaque et peuvent être difficiles à traiter.
</li></ul> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
