Evaluation of Endothelial Dysfunction in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients

Endothelial dysfunction has early been characterized in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. The study was aimed to study evaluation of endothelial dysfunction in idiopathic cardiomyopathy patients (DCM).

Thirty newly diagnosed patients (age >18 years) of DCM were enrolled in the study from cardiology OPD, PGIMER, Chandigarh from January 2011 to June 2012. Age-and sex-matched 30 healthy controls were also enrolled. Idiopathic DCM was diagnosed by presence of left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction (LVEF <40%) on echocardiography in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension or valvular disease. All patients underwent echocardiography and coronary arteriography. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) were compared between patients and controls.

There was no significant difference in mean IMT between patients (0.73±0.04 mm) and controls (0.747±0.03 mm) (P=0.18). There was significant difference in left IMT in NHYA class (P=0.010). There was significant difference in mean percentage of FMD (patients vs. controls; 4.37% vs. 8.35%; P=0.001) while baseline FMD was different (patients vs. controls; 3.6 mm±0.26 mm vs. 3.72±0.32 mm; P=0.13). There was no significant difference in percentage NMD (P=0.057) and mean NMD (P=0.26) between patients and controls. There was no correlation between FMD and IMT.

Endothelial dysfunction occurs in IDC patients. Also, there is a positive correlation with NHYA class; however, IMT is not affected in dilated cardiomyopathy.