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Published on: April 13, 2015
Progression of coronary artery disease in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy
Olaf Hedrich1, Mark Jacob, Paul J Hauptman
1Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Missouri, USA.
Insights
Some patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) may develop ischemic heart complications, including fatal myocardial infarction. Further research is needed to understand this phenomenon and guide risk factor modification strategies for improved heart failure survival.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Heart Failure Research
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is typically classified into ischemic and non-ischemic causes.
- Emerging data suggests a subset of non-ischemic DCM patients experience ischemic events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinical trial data regarding ischemic complications in non-ischemic DCM.
- To highlight the need for further investigation into the causes and prevalence of these events.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical trial data.
- Analysis of reported ischemic complications within the non-ischemic DCM cohort.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests that some patients diagnosed with non-ischemic DCM develop ischemic complications.
- Fatal myocardial infarction is noted as a potential outcome in this subgroup.
- The underlying reasons and exact frequency of this phenomenon remain unclear.
Conclusions:
- The occurrence of ischemic events in non-ischemic DCM warrants further investigation through prospective screening and improved clinical trial endpoint analysis.
- Risk factor modification is recommended for non-ischemic DCM patients, particularly given advancements in heart failure survival rates.
Abstract:
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is traditionally divided into ischemic and non-ischemic etiologies. We review data from clinical trials that suggest some patients in the latter subgroup develop ischemic complications including fatal myocardial infarction. However, the reasons for and magnitude of the effect are not known. Prospective screening studies and improved endpoint adjudication in clinical trials may be required to better delineate the degree to which the phenomenon occurs. Risk factor modification strategies should be applied to the non-ischemic DCM cohort, especially with continued improvements in survival rates in patients with heart failure.
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