[Dilated cardiomyopathy with deep, completely reversible dysfunction of the left heart in alcoholic patients. Report of 2 cases]
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P Marette1, M Toussaint, C Spaulding
1Service des maladies cardiovasculaires, hôpital Cochin, Paris.
Insights
Chronic excessive alcohol consumption can cause severe heart muscle disease (alcoholic cardiomyopathy). Complete reversal of cardiac dysfunction was observed in two patients after they stopped drinking alcohol for 10-14 months.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Dilated, hypokinetic cardiomyopathy can lead to cardiac failure.
- Chronic major alcoholism is a potential etiological factor.
Observation:
- Two patients (29-year-old female, 55-year-old male) presented with alcoholic cardiomyopathy and cardiac failure.
- No etiological factors other than chronic alcohol consumption (over 100 ml/day for >5 years) were identified.
Findings:
- Cardiac function significantly improved in both patients after alcohol cessation.
- Left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 22% to 70% and 12% to 73% after 10 and 14 months of abstinence, respectively.
Implications:
- These cases support the diagnosis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy as a distinct entity.
- Alcohol cessation is a viable therapeutic strategy for reversing alcohol-induced heart damage.
Abstract:
Two cases of dilated, hypokinetic cardiomyopathy complicated by cardiac failure, are reported in a 29 year old woman and a 55 year old man, with no etiological factors other than chronic major alcoholism (consumption of over 100 ml of alcohol per day for over 5 years). This was completely reversed 10 and 14 months after cessation of alcohol consumption. The isotopic left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 22 to 70 p. 100 and from 12 to 73% respectively. These cases are are and are evidence in favour of an alcoholic cardiomyopathy rather than alcohol being an aggravating factor in patients with cardiomyopathy.