What is the definition of cardiomyopathy?

Study for the PANCE Cardiology Test. Enhance your knowledge with comprehensive flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and detailed explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle itself—the myocardium. The defining idea is that the problem starts in the myocardial tissue, not in surrounding structures or from blood-flow problems. So it describes heart disease arising from a primary abnormality of the myocardium. By contrast, issues limited to the pericardium, disease of the endocardium with valvular involvement, or ischemic damage from coronary artery disease involve other parts of the heart or are secondary to blood supply problems, not an intrinsic myocardial defect. Examples include dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathies, where the myocardium is the primary site of disease.

Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle itself—the myocardium. The defining idea is that the problem starts in the myocardial tissue, not in surrounding structures or from blood-flow problems. So it describes heart disease arising from a primary abnormality of the myocardium. By contrast, issues limited to the pericardium, disease of the endocardium with valvular involvement, or ischemic damage from coronary artery disease involve other parts of the heart or are secondary to blood supply problems, not an intrinsic myocardial defect. Examples include dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathies, where the myocardium is the primary site of disease.

More practice questions