Dear Doctor,
Thanks for helping people with this forum. I have a few questions related
to cardiomyopathy. I have low normal function on the echo, palpitations,
a borderline left ventricle, and problems breathing. However I've had
an echo that they said was normal LV size and function three times in the
last four months. I am 34 and have no hypertension, valve disease, or
CAD (at least as far as a recent stress test says) so I thought my syptoms
might have been caused by viral or dialated cardiomyopathy.
1. About a year ago I had a virus with a low grade fever for almost two
weeks. My heart rate was elevated at the time. The doctor did a EKG that
was normal. could that have been myocarditis?
2. I heard idiopathic cardiomyopathy was caused by a virus. How long after
the virus would the cardiomyopathy show up? Would you be safe a year after
the virus? Do all your chamber enlarge with alchoholic cardiomyopathy or
just the left ventricle. (I haven't drank for four years but was a regular'
drinker of beer in my twenties). Thanks again for your help. Will T
______
Dear Will,
Many times the cause of a cardiomyopathy is never known, and often when it
follows a viral like illness, we presume it is related to that and we term
it viral cardiomyopathy; the current belief is that a viral infection within
six months of the cardiomyopathy is considered a potential cause, however
this whole concept is very vague given that some patients with a cardiomyopthy
don't get symptoms of the cardiomyopathy for months or ever (if there cardiomyopathy
recovers before they ever experience symptoms.)
Most viral cardiomyopathies get better/return to
normal function with in one year, and in the same light, if the patient has
not improved in the first year, it is unlikely they will ever fully recover
their heart function.
Alcohol can dilate all or just the left ventricle. In a patient with alcoholic
cardiomyopathy who does not stop drinking or who presents late in the course
his/her disease process, it is likely that all four chambers will be dilated
and dysfunctional as well likely irreversible. It is great that you stopped
drinking, especially because it would likely have been harder for your heart
to recover fromt the presumed viral cardiomyopathy if you were actively
drinking at the time.
Lastly, it is unlikely that you had myocarditis at that time, but not impossible.
hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general
purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to
write back with additional questions. Good luck.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call
1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that
can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
