What Causes Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy refers to structural and functional abnormalities of the heart muscle, which are not caused by conditions such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart valve disorders, or congenital heart defects. It is a broad category of heart diseases, and is typically classified into two main types: primary and secondary cardiomyopathy.

Primary Cardiomyopathy

Primary cardiomyopathy originates in the heart muscle itself and is not the result of another underlying condition. It includes several subtypes, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, endomyocardial fibroelastosis, left ventricular non-compaction, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and right ventricular dysplasia. Among these, dilated cardiomyopathy is the most commonly diagnosed form. These conditions can affect the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently and may lead to heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms.

Secondary Cardiomyopathy

Secondary cardiomyopathy occurs as a result of other diseases or external factors that impact the heart muscle. This category includes inflammatory or immune-related cardiomyopathies that develop from chronic myocarditis, cardiomyopathies caused by metabolic disorders or neuromuscular diseases, tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy, heart muscle dysfunction due to endocrine disorders, and drug-induced cardiomyopathy. Identifying and managing the underlying cause is crucial in treating this type of heart muscle disease.