title: Congestive cardiomyopathy in infants and children. Clinical features and natural history.
abstract: Fifty infants and children with a diagnosis of congestive cardiomyopathy were reviewed at the Department of Pediatrics, Ramathibodi Hospital. These patients were followed for an average of 2.9 years. Congestive heart failure was present in 82.6% of the cases. Of these patients, 43% died, 82% within the first year of their illness. Residual heart disease continues in 30%, while 27% made a complete recovery. Factors that were highly predictive of the clinical course are age, cardiothoracic ratio of initial and subsequent chest X rays and the initial response to treatment. Infants less than 1 year old had a poor prognosis. The higher the cardiothoracic ratio on the initial and subsequent examinations and the poorer the response to medical treatment, the poorer the prognosis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001510:Bed Rest; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004232:Diuretics