Possibilities of two-dimensional echocardiography in cardiomyopathies

Findings in 20 patients with congestive, in 14 with hypertrophic and in one with restrictive cardiomyopathy are described. In congestive cardiomyopathy, there predominated left ventricular dilatation and diffuse hypokinesis with decreased ejection fraction. The main criteria are reported for differentiating it from advanced diffuse ischaemic heart disease. More detailed characterization is presented of the type of asymmetric septal hypertrophy and of the systolic anterior motion of the mitral apparatus and the possible causes of this finding are discussed. In a patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy there predominated a symmetric thickening of the left ventricle, with diffusely decreased kinetics and increased density of all structures.