Remodeling

  Hello!  I have idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and have experienced significant improvement with medications such as ace inhibitors and Coreg.  My left ventricle is still enlarged and is misshapen.  I think it is called remodeled.  Does the remodeling ever reverse?  Also, when a person has cardiomyopathy do they always have CHF?  Thank you,  Jan
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Dear Jan:
Yes, the heart can favorably remodel.  Medicines like ACE inhibitors have been shown to reverse some of the dilation and enlargement that can be present in cases of cardiomyopathy.  The changes can take time to materialize.
A person with cardiomyopathy can either be symptomatic with CHF or asymptomatic.  Indeed, many people with cardiomyopathy are so well controlled with medications, that they have no signs or symptoms of CHF.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F25.