Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. Many types are genetic, and a person may inherit them from a parent. These types are known as inherited cardiomyopathies.
Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases that damage the heart muscle. These diseases can make it difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body. Most types of cardiomyopathy cause the heart muscle to enlarge, stiffen, or become too thin or too thick.
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Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
DCM causes the muscle in the heart to dilate, stretch, and become thinner. As a result, the interiors of the heart’s chambers become larger.
DCM also causes the heart muscle to contract abnormally, which affects the heart’s ability to effectively pump blood. This weakening of the heart muscles can also cause heart failure.
Health experts estimate that DCM occurs at a rate of
Symptoms of DCM
DCM
- paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, which is shortness of breath during sleep that causes the person to wake up
- orthopnea, which is shortness of breath when lying flat
- leg swelling
- fatigue
- malaise
- weakness
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- swelling throughout the body
Inheritance of DCM
DCM
- Titin: a protein that provides structure, flexibility, and stability to heart muscle
- Desmin: a protein involved in the development of skeletal and cardiac muscle
- Lamin A and lamin C: proteins involved in maintaining the structural stability of cells
- Myosin: a protein involved in muscle contraction
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that
Symptoms of HCM
People with HCM
Possible symptoms include:
- chest pain and shortness of breath, particularly when exercising
- fatigue
- heart palpitations, which are periods of a rapid or irregular heartbeat
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- fainting
- swelling
Inheritance of HCM
In about
Medical professionals associate HCM with variations in the gene that is responsible for contractile elements in the heart.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), also known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, occurs when the muscle tissue in the heart’s right ventricle
ARVD affects about
Symptoms of ARVD
Common symptoms of ARVD
- heart palpitations
- lightheadedness with exercise
- fainting after physical activity
In some cases, ARVD may cause cardiac arrest during exercise.
Inheritance of ARVD
A person typically inherits ARVD. Medical professionals typically classify it as an autosomal dominant condition.
Around
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM)
Over time, RCM causes blood flow in the heart to reduce, which can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias. RCM is a less common cause of cardiomyopathy.
Symptoms of RCM
Possible symptoms of RCM include heart failure symptoms such as shortness of breath, low exercise tolerance, swelling, and fatigue, as well as heart palpitations. In some cases, a person may experience sudden cardiac arrest.
Inheritance of RCM
RCM can occur
The
Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a
When a person has ATTR-CM, a protein called transthyretin becomes misshapen and builds up in the heart. When these protein deposits collect in the heart, they can cause the walls of the heart to stiffen. As a result, the left ventricle may be unable to relax and may fill with blood.
There is not much information on the prevalence of ATTR-CM. However, a
Symptoms of ATTR-CM
Symptoms of ATTR-CM
In the early stages, ATTR-CM can cause signs and symptoms similar to those of other conditions, such as heart failure from other causes and high blood pressure. People may also experience seemingly unrelated symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve problems.
Some people may have no symptoms at all. In some cases, a person may progress to end stage heart failure.
Inheritance of ATTR-CM
There are
Hereditary ATTR-CM can run in families, and a person can inherit it from their parents.
Chromosome 18
Treatment for inherited cardiomyopathies
- stop the disease from worsening
- manage or treat any underlying causes of the disease
- manage conditions that may cause the disease to worsen
- reduce complications
- reduce the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest
- manage symptoms to help improve a person’s quality of life
Below are some of the treatment options for inherited cardiomyopathies.
Medications for inherited cardiomyopathies
A medical professional may prescribe medications that
- Lower a person’s blood pressure: Medications doctors use to lower blood pressure include:
- Slow the heart rate: Medications doctors use to slow a person’s heart rate include:
- beta-blockers
- calcium channel blockers
- digoxin
- Maintain a normal heart rhythm: Doctors may prescribe antiarrhythmic medications to prevent a person from developing arrhythmias.
- Balance electrolytes: Electrolytes are minerals that help maintain fluid levels in the body. They can help muscle and nerve tissues function. Doctors may prescribe aldosterone blockers to help balance a person’s electrolytes.
- Remove excess fluid and sodium: Doctors may prescribe diuretics to help remove excess fluid and sodium from a person’s body.
- Prevent blood clots: A doctor may prescribe anticoagulants to treat or prevent blood clots in those with certain inherited cardiomyopathies or related arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.
Procedures for inherited cardiomyopathies
A medical professional may decide to use a range of surgical or nonsurgical procedures to treat inherited cardiomyopathies.
These
- Surgically implanted devices: A surgeon may implant a number of devices to help improve the heart’s function, such as:
- Heart transplant: In some cases, a person may benefit from a heart transplant. This involves removing the heart and replacing it with a healthy heart from a donor. This is often a last resort for people with end stage heart failure.
- Septal myectomy: This is a form of open heart surgery that doctors use to treat HCM. During this procedure, a surgeon removes a portion of the thickened septum that bulges into the left ventricle. This procedure can help improve blood flow through the heart.
- Alcohol septal ablation: In this nonsurgical procedure, a doctor injects ethanol through a tube into the artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle. This is a treatment option for people with HCM. It causes cells in the thickened heart muscle to die, which in turn causes thickened heart tissue to shrink.
Lifestyle strategies for inherited cardiomyopathies
A person with an inherited cardiomyopathy may also choose to use some of
- eating a nutritious diet
- choosing foods that are low in saturated and trans fats
- getting regular physical activity
- reducing salt and sugar intake
- quitting or avoiding smoking
- avoiding alcohol and illegal drugs
- getting enough rest and sleep
- reducing or managing stress
Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases that affects the muscles in the heart. Many types of cardiomyopathy are genetic, which means a parent can pass them down to their children.
Treatment options will vary depending on the type of cardiomyopathy. Possible treatments include medications to help lower the blood pressure, slow the heart rate, maintain a normal heart rhythm, and prevent blood clots, as well as surgery and the implantation of devices to help improve the heart’s function.