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Pathophysiology
Clinical meaning
Cardiomyopathies alter the structure and function of the ventricular myocardium. Dilated cardiomyopathy stretches and thins the walls (systolic failure). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy thickens the septum (outflow obstruction). Restrictive cardiomyopathy stiffens the walls (diastolic failure).
Exam Focus
Exam relevance
Risk factors:
- Family history/genetic mutations (HCM)
- Chronic alcohol use (dilated)
- Viral myocarditis
- Chemotherapy (doxorubicin)
- Chronic hypertension
- Amyloidosis or sarcoidosis (restrictive)
- Peripartum state
Diagnostics:
- Expect echocardiogram to assess chamber size and function
- Expect BNP level
- Monitor ECG for hypertrophy or arrhythmias
- Expect cardiac MRI for tissue characterization
- Monitor chest X-ray for cardiomegaly
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