Generality
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by "abnormal dilation of the left ventricle of the heart and reduced cardiac contractility.
Figure: Illustration of a normal heart (left) and a heart with dilated cardiomyopathy (right). From the site en.wikipedia.org
The disease can be an inherited or acquired disorder. Sometimes, it is not possible to pinpoint a specific cause; in these situations, dilated cardiomyopathy is defined as idiopathic.
When present, the main symptoms of the disease are: dyspnoea, cardiac arrhythmias, edema in various parts of the body, persistent fatigue and chest pain.
Diagnosis may require the execution of various tests, in some cases even invasive.
A patient with dilated cardiomyopathy cannot recover but, if treated properly, can have a "better life expectancy."
