Myocardiopathies
"Following its introduction into clinical practice, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has become the best non-invasive diagnostic technique available for the diagnosis of acute myocarditis".
DR. JUAN JOSÉ GAVIRA
SPECIALIST. CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the heart muscle that impair its ability to pump blood normally. People who have them may notice shortness of breath during physical activity—and in more advanced stages also at rest or when lying flat in bed—swelling in the ankles and legs, fatigue that does not improve with rest, palpitations, dizziness, or chest pain.
In some cases, especially at the beginning, the disease causes no symptoms and is discovered incidentally during a medical check-up or after evaluating relatives of a person who has already been diagnosed.
There are several types of cardiomyopathy—dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic, and noncompaction—which differ in the way they affect the heart muscle. Many have a significant hereditary component and are one of the known causes of sudden death in athletes and young people, so early diagnosis and family screening are essential. If you notice several of these symptoms persistently, especially if you have a family history of heart disease or sudden death in young people, you should see a cardiologist for an evaluation.
The vast majority of cardiomyopathies can be managed with appropriate treatment and regular medical follow-up.
What are the symptoms of cardiomyopathy?
The most common symptoms are:
- Dyspnea.
- Edemas.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
You may have cardiomyopathy
How is cardiomyopathy diagnosed?
The diagnosis of cardiomyopathies is established based on the symptoms found.
Two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler are fundamental to confirm the diagnosis, as well as very useful to evaluate the degree of ventricular dilation and dysfunction and to exclude an associated valvular or pericardial pathology.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis and clinical management of cardiomyopathies. Its contribution is based on its capacity for tissue characterization in addition to the accurate and reproducible quantification of cardiac mass and volumes.
Through resonance, morphology can be assessed, the severity of ventricular dysfunction can be determined and myocardiumopathy can be characterized (etiological diagnosis).
How are cardiomyopathies treated?
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
The treatment consists of the administration of drugs usually used in heart failure and, in more advanced stages, the performance of a heart transplant.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Treatment will consist of the administration of drugs that decrease the contractility of the heart muscle, such as beta-blockers or calcium antagonists.
In some cases, pacemakers can be used to alleviate the symptoms and even, when the hypertrophy is localized, to provoke a heart attack in that area (percutaneous ablation of the septal artery).
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
The treatment will consist of the control of the symptoms produced by the heart failure.
What clinical trials do we have on Myocardiopathies?
The Department of Cardiology
of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The Department of Cardiology of the Clinica Universidad de Navarra is a center of reference in different diagnostic techniques and coronary treatments.
We have been the first center in Europe to place a pacemaker by means of a catheterization without the need to open the chest, for cases of severe heart failure.
The Cardiology Department of the Clinic collaborates with the Radiology and Cardiac Surgery Departments to achieve a quick and precise diagnosis of the patient.
Why at the Clinica?
- Specialized Arrhythmia Unit of national reference.
- Unit of Hemodynamics and Interventionist Cardiology equipped with the best technology.
- Cardiac Imaging Unit to achieve the highest diagnostic accuracy.
Our team of professionals
