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Prognosis and treatment of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis

Heart and Vessels volume 1, pages 175–179 (1985)Cite this article

Summary

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous group of disorders with a prognosis that is dependent upon the severity of presenting clinical and hemodynamic abnormalties. Although this condition is characterized by a high mortality, spontaneous improvement is noted in 25% of cases. Standard therapeutic modalities are nonspecific and consist of the therapy of congestive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia. Recent studies suggest that beta blockade and cardiac transplantation may soon become accepted modalities in this condition. Acute viral myocarditis is a common disease that has a good prognosis, however occasionally progression to chronic myocardial disease has been identified. The therapy of acute viral myocarditis should be limited to symptomatic treatment, anticoagulation, and bed rest. When chronic myocarditis is identified on endomyocardial biopsy in patients with heart failure of unknown cause, the treatment differs little from that of dilated cardiomyopathy with the exception that recognizing that efficacy has not been proven; immunosuppressive therapy may be added in life-threatening situations. Future studies will be directed at further clarification of the prognosis of each of these conditions with intensive evaluation of the role of beta blockade and immunosuppression.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, Illinois, USA

    John B. O'Connell, Maria Rosa Costanzo-Nordin, Richard S. Engelmeier, Diane E. Wallis, John A. Robinson & Patrick J. Scanlon

  2. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Hines, Illinois, USA

    John B. O'Connell, Maria Rosa Costanzo-Nordin, Richard S. Engelmeier, Diane E. Wallis, John A. Robinson & Patrick J. Scanlon

Authors
  1. John B. O'Connell
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  2. Maria Rosa Costanzo-Nordin
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  3. Richard S. Engelmeier
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  4. Diane E. Wallis
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  5. John A. Robinson
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  6. Patrick J. Scanlon
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Supported in part by the Earl M. Bane Charitable Trust and the Grant from the Fraternal Order of Eagles

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O'Connell, J.B., Rosa Costanzo-Nordin, M., Engelmeier, R.S. et al. Prognosis and treatment of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. Heart Vessels 1, 175–179 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02072388

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02072388

Keywords

  • Heart Failure
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Ventricular Arrhythmia
  • Myocarditis