title: Role of imaging in the detection of reversible cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Heart failure is a major clinical problem in developed countries with about half of heart failure patients exhibiting decreased left ventricular systolic function. The correct identification and prompt treatment of some specific etiologies can reverse heart failure, and recognition of myocardial recovery may avoid long-term therapy. However, the echocardiographic patterns of patients with a variety of etiologies of heart failure are similar, so the selective use of other imaging techniques is necessary for identification of specific etiologies. The role of repeat imaging in monitoring the therapeutic response is controversial, as is the cessation of medical therapy in patients demonstrating recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Oh, USA. ; Cardiology Division of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyeong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Deborah H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Randall C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Starling
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Marwick
keywords: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; Echocardiography; Heart failure; Reversible cardiomyopathy