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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffEnlargement of the left ventricle and its inability to pump blood efficiently can cause any of the following complications:
- Heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy can cause poor blood flow from the left ventricle, leading to heart failure.
- Heart valve regurgitation. Enlargement of the left ventricle may make it harder for your heart valves to close, causing a backward flow of blood. This makes the heart pump less effectively, which can lead to heart failure.
- Edema. Dilated cardiomyopathy can cause fluid buildup in the lungs, abdomen, legs and feet (edema), because your heart can't pump as effectively as a healthy heart.
- Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias). Changes in heart structure and changes in pressure on the heart's chambers can cause heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia).
- Sudden cardiac arrest. Dilated cardiomyopathy can cause your heart to suddenly stop beating.
- Embolism. Pooling of blood (stasis) in the left ventricle can lead to blood clots (emboli), which may enter the bloodstream, cut off the blood supply to vital organs, and cause stroke, heart attack or damage to other organs.
References
- Jeffries JL, et al. Dilated cardiomyopathy. The Lancet. 2010;375:752.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_312224.pdf. Accessed July 3, 2011.
- Cardiomyopathy. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cm/cm_all.html. Accessed July 3, 2011.
- Mestroni L, et al. Dilated cardiomyopathies. In: Fuster V, et al. Hurst's The Heart. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=7811432. Accessed July 3, 2011.
- Bashore TM, et al. Heart disease. In McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2011. 50th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3671. Accessed July 3, 2011.
- Hunt SA, et al. 2009 Focused update incorporated into the ACC/AHA 2005 guidelines for the diagnosis and management of heart failure in adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2009;53:e1.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 31, 2011.
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