What Causes Cardiomyopathy?
Many times, the cause of cardiomyopathy is unknown.
When this happens, the disease is called idiopathic (or primary)
cardiomyopathy. The majority of cardiomyopathies in children are
idiopathic.
Sometimes, cardiomyopathy is inherited (passed down
in the genes from parent to child) or caused by another disease or condition.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy can be inherited. It also can
be caused by certain diseases, conditions, and substances, including:
- Coronary
artery disease and
heart
attacks (ischemic cardiomyopathy)
- Infections, especially viral infections that
cause the heart muscle to become inflamed (myocarditis)
- Alcohol, especially when a person has a poor diet
(alcoholic cardiomyopathy)
- Complications during the last month of pregnancy
or within 5 months of birth (peripartum cardiomyopathy)
- Certain toxins, such as cobalt
- Certain drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and
two medicines used to treat cancer (doxorubicin and daunorubicin)
- Diseases such as diabetes and thyroid
disease
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be inherited. It
also can develop over time because of high blood pressure or aging. Often, the
cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is unknown.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Certain diseases and conditions can cause
restrictive cardiomyopathy, including:
- Hemochromatosis, a condition in which too much
iron is deposited into tissues, including heart tissue
- Amyloidosis, a disease in which abnormal proteins
are deposited into heart tissue
- Sarcoidosis,
a disease in which inflammation produces tiny lumps of cells in various organs
in the body, including the heart
- Connective tissue disorders
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia
Arrythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is thought
to be an inherited disease.
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