Pathology: Dilated and weakened heart muscle
Aetiology: Excessive alcohol use, hypertension,viral infection, autoimmune disease
Symptoms: Dyspnoea, Right VentricularFailure, fatigue, AF, VT, ascites
Signs: Tachycardia,tachypnoea, peripheral cyanosis, basal crepitations, hepatomegaly
raised JVP, hypotension,S3 gallop and pleural effusion
Investigations: Bloods:U&E, LFT, TFT, Iron studies, Autoimmune studies, Infection screen
Chest X-Ray: Cardiomegaly,pulmonary oedema
ECG: Assess for potential cause, may showtachycardia
Echo: global dilatation with hypokinesis
Treatment: Treatheart failure, CRT, anticoagulation, cardiac transplantation
Complications: Tachyarrhythmia causing sudden cardiacdeath, LV thrombus or valve
dysfunction
Prognosis: 50% mortality over 2 years.
