[Isotopic methods and primary congestive cardiomyopathies]

28 patients with primary congestive cardiomyopathy in heart failure identified by cineangiographic criteria (end-diastolic volume greater than 120 ml/m2; parietal thickness less than 11 mm; normal coronary angiography), underwent 131-Cesium and 201-Thallium myocardial scintigraphy in antero-posterior and LAO projections, and 17 also underwent angiocardiography with 99 Technetium labelled albumin. This condition usually gives an appearance of an enlarged heart with diffuse or localised (antero lateral wall) hypofixation, dilatation of the left ventricular, left atrial and right ventricular cavities and a very low ejection fraction with diffusely hypokinetic wall motion. Radio-Isotopic methods may help discriminate primary and ischaemic cardiomyopathy but are not diagnostic. A low ejection fraction and marked diffuse hypofixation are poor prognostic indices. Radio-Isotopic methods are valuable in the classification of primary cardiomyopathy.