[Epidemiology-etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy].
Among the cardiomyopathies,--dilated cardiomyopathy (dcm), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy--, dcm is the most frequent entity. Its prevalence in the United States amounts to 36 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, men being almost 3-fold more involved than women. The etiology of dcm is very heterogenous; 50% of the cases are due to idiopathic dcm whereas the other half comprises a broad spectrum of various etiologies such as myocarditis, ischemic heart disease, peripartal cardiomyopathy, hypertension, HIV infection, toxic cardiomyopathy and others. In 20 to 30% of the cases of idiopathic dcm a genetic transmission of the disease has been found. Another 20 to 30% of idiopathic dcm are associated with inflammatory and immunological phenomena. Infectious myocarditis with enteroviruses, especially with coxsackie-virus type B has been suggested to be an important trigger for an immune-mediated dcm. In both, familiar dcm and infection with coxsackie-virus B, an impairment of constituents of the myocardial cytoskeleton has been shown. This is regarded as a possible pathogenetic mechanism in the development of dcm.
Medizinische Klinik II, Krankenhaus St. Elisabeth und St. Barbara, Mauerstr. 5 06110 Halle, Saale.
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D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D005819:Genetic Markers