title: [Clinical features and course of congestive cardiomyopathy of unknown aetiology (author's transl)].
abstract: Clinical, haemodynamic and angiographic findings in 50 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy were related to subsequent clinical course (mean observation period of 40 months). Ejection fraction and changes in mean pulmonary "wedge" pressure on ergometric exercise proved to be the most reliable criteria for judging left-ventricular function. During the period of observation 11 patients had died, in 15 the clinical state had deteriorated by one or two functional classes, and in 24 there had been no change. Patients with progressing disease differed from those clinically unchanged by having a smaller cardiac index, increased end-diastolic left ventricular pressure, higher pulmonary arterial pressure and smaller ejection fraction. Prognosis was no worse with atrial fibrillation than with sinus rhythm. Four of 13 patients with left bundle branch block died during the observation period and in seven the clinical state had deteriorated by one or two functional classes. The tested variables apparently have a good prognostic value.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002196:Capillaries; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011379:Prognosis
vernacular_title: Klinik und Verlauf der kongestiven Kardiomyopathie ungeklärter Atiologie