[Follow-up (4.6 years) of patients with latent cardiomyopathy]

25 patients with latent cardiomyopathy (LCM) (filling pressure elevated during exercise) were followed. After 4.6 years 15 patients were re-examined (10 female, 5 male, mean age at first examination 47 years). 6 patients could not be reexamined, but it is certain that all 6 patients lived. 3 patients of whom 2 were foreigners could not be followed. 9 of these 15 re-examined patients showed 4.6 years after the first examination a normalization of filling pressures during exercise. Findings remained constant in 4 and became worse in 2 patients. There was a tendency for arterial blood pressure to increase during the 4.6 years. This small group of retrospectively followed patients with latent cardiomyopathy showed a favourable long-term result. The findings do not support the hypothesis that LCM is an early manifestation of dilated congestive cardiomyopathy.