title: Alcoholic cardiomyopathy: a review.
abstract: Alcohol abuse can cause cardiomyopathy indistinguishable from other types of dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Most heavy drinkers remain asymptomatic in the earlier stages of disease progression, and many never develop the familiar clinical manifestations that typify heart failure. We review the current thinking on the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and treatments available for alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The relationship of alcohol to heart disease is complicated by the fact that in moderation, alcohol has been shown to afford a certain degree of protection against cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Einstein Institute for Heart and Vascular Health, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. figueredov@einstein.edu
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Figueredo
mesh_terms: D002310:Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans