Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. It
can run in families and can affect more than one member of a
family.
Some family members, even if they have the
condition, may not be affected or have any symptoms at
all.
There are three main types of
cardiomyopathy:
What is hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited
(genetic) condition which means it is passed on through
families. Each child of someone with HCM has a 50 per
cent chance of inheriting the condition.
If you have HCM, the muscular wall of
your heart is affected and becomes thickened, making the heart
muscle stiff. This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood
around your body. HCM can also make it difficult for blood to flow
out of the left ventricle of your
heart.
What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
If you are told that you
have dilated
cardiomyopathy (DCM) you may find that no-one else in your
family has the condition. However, there is a chance that it can be
inherited too. Like HCM, there is a 50 per cent chance that a
child will inherit the condition from a parent with DCM.
In DCM, the heart muscle wall becomes
thin and floppy, and is described as being dilated or 'baggy'. This
makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood
around the body efficiently.
DCM can occur in some women in
the late stages of pregnancy or shortly after birth. It can also be
caused by some viral infections, uncontrolled high blood pressure
and excessive amounts of alcohol. In these situations, it is
unlikely that DCM will be passed on through families.
What is arrhythmogenic right
ventricular cardiomyopathy?
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) usually
affects the right side of your heart but it can affect both
sides. It is an inherited condition which means that it is
passed on through families. The chances of inheriting ARVC vary.
You can find more information in our booklet.
In ARVC, the heart muscle cells are
gradually replaced with fatty tissue. It often happens in a
'patchy' pattern in your heart muscle, with normal muscle
cells inbetween. This can make it difficult to diagnose.
The change to your heart muscle
makes your heart weaker, and so it doesn't pump
blood around the body effectively. ARVC can also cause abnormal
heart rhythms as the electrical impulses are slowed down as they
pass through the muscle wall unevenly. It usually takes many years
for this to happen so most people are not diagnosed until later in
life.
What else do I need to know?
Although cardiomyopathy cannot be
cured, there are many effective treatments that can help you to
lead a normal life. In a few cases, there is a risk of sudden arrhythmic death (SADS). You should
discuss any possible risk with your doctor, who will be able
to advise you about treatments available to you.
Because cardiomyopathies can be
inherited, you should speak to your GP about screening for your
family. You can also find out more information about screening for
you and your family from the BHF
Genetic Information Service on 0300 456 8383.
Lines are open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Calls are charged at a
similar cost to 01 or 02 numbers.
