Mădălina Gilice, Sonia Tănăsescu, Mirela Soare, Alice Raica and Liviu Pop

ABSTRACT

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by the dilation of cavities and a reduction in the LV and/or RV force of contraction. There are idiopathic, family/genetic, viral and/or immunologic as well as alcoholic/tox cardiomyopathies, or dilated DCMs associated with known cardiac conditions where the degree of the myocardial dysfunction is not explained by the hemodynamic anomalies or by the severity of the ischemia. The cases admitted in the clinic present mostly symptoms such as: heart failure, arrhythmia, pulmonary thromboembolism and sudden death. During November 2006 and January 2007, the medical personnel in the 2nd Pediatric Clinic diagnosed 3 cases of dilated cardiomyopathy in newborns and infants. The positive diagnosis was made in the presence of heart failure (2 cases) and cardiogenic shock (1 case). In all cases of congestive heart failure with early onset in the newborn or infant period, the cardiac ultrasound has a decisive role in establishing the diagnosis of CMD. This allows applying a complex therapeutical plan and sometimes improve the progress of this affection and long term prognosis.

Key words: dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, newborns and infants

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