title: [Progression from latent cardiomyopathy to dilated cardiomyopathy: a review of five cases].
abstract: We report 5 patients, who had no cardiac abnormalities at their initial evaluation but progressed to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) during a mean follow-up period of 8.2 years. Their echocardiograms revealed increases in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimensions, deterioration of LV contractions, and reduction in the LV wall thickness. Electrocardiographic changes were developed of rhythm disturbances, intensified ST-segment and T-wave changes, and the prolonged QRS durations. These findings, especially those of electrocardiography, seemed to be important for an early detection and characterization of DCM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takarada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurogane
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minamiji
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Itoo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokota
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged