What is the most common identifiable cause of dilated cardiomyopathy?

What is the most common identifiable cause of dilated cardiomyopathy?

• A. Ischemic heart disease
• B. Alcohol
• C. Viral myocarditis
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (B)

Dilated cardiomyopathy involves enlargement of the ventricles with impaired systolic function. Among identifiable causes, chronic alcohol use is the most common. Ethanol directly injures cardiac myocytes and disrupts energy metabolism, leading to ventricular dilation and reduced contractility. Importantly, abstinence can often improve function, underscoring alcohol’s role as a treatable cause. Ischemic heart disease causes cardiomyopathy through scar formation after infarction rather than presenting as primary dilation. Hypertension tends to cause concentric hypertrophy from pressure overload, and while it can lead to systolic dysfunction over time, it is not the typical primary identifiable cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Viral myocarditis can result in a dilated, failing heart but is less consistently identifiable as the leading cause. Thus chronic alcohol use best fits as the most common identifiable cause.

Dilated cardiomyopathy involves enlargement of the ventricles with impaired systolic function. Among identifiable causes, chronic alcohol use is the most common. Ethanol directly injures cardiac myocytes and disrupts energy metabolism, leading to ventricular dilation and reduced contractility. Importantly, abstinence can often improve function, underscoring alcohol’s role as a treatable cause. Ischemic heart disease causes cardiomyopathy through scar formation after infarction rather than presenting as primary dilation. Hypertension tends to cause concentric hypertrophy from pressure overload, and while it can lead to systolic dysfunction over time, it is not the typical primary identifiable cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Viral myocarditis can result in a dilated, failing heart but is less consistently identifiable as the leading cause. Thus chronic alcohol use best fits as the most common identifiable cause.