Related Experiment Videos
Histopathologic changes in asymptomatic relatives of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
C J McKenna1, D D Sugrue, H M Kwon
1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
Screening relatives of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy can identify early disease. This study reveals abnormal cellularity in the heart muscle of these relatives, suggesting a new diagnostic marker.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Pathology
Background:
- Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCMP) is a significant cause of heart failure.
- Familial forms of IDCMP are increasingly recognized.
- Echocardiography is used to screen at-risk relatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate myocardial cellularity in asymptomatic relatives of IDCMP patients.
- To determine if cellular abnormalities correlate with left ventricular enlargement.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiographic screening of asymptomatic first-degree relatives of patients with IDCMP.
- Histopathological examination of myocardial tissue samples from identified relatives with left ventricular enlargement.
Main Results:
- A subset of asymptomatic relatives showed left ventricular enlargement.
- These relatives exhibited abnormal myocardial cellularity.
- This finding suggests a cellular basis for early familial IDCMP.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal myocardial cellularity is present in asymptomatic relatives with early signs of familial IDCMP.
- Cellular abnormalities may precede significant chamber dilation.
- This highlights a potential new avenue for early diagnosis and understanding of familial IDCMP.
Abstract:
Echocardiographic screening of asymptomatic relatives of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy identifies a subset with left ventricular enlargement who are assumed to have early familial idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. This study shows for the first time that the myocardium in such relatives demonstrates abnormal cellularity.