All issues > Volume 26(11); 1983

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1983;26(11):1081-1094. Published online November 30, 1983.

Clinical Study on the Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Children.

Jong Jin Seo¹, Byong Gwan Sohn¹, Jung Yeun Choi¹, Yong Soo Yoon¹, Chang Yee Hong¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine，Seoul National University

Abstract

Forty five cases of dilated cardiomyopathy who were admitted, to Seoul National University Hospital from June, 1980 to May, 1983 were studied on the clinical features and laboratory findings. 1) Twenty two cases (44.4%) were primary dilated cardiomyopathy, and the other 25 case (55.6%) were secondary. Nineteen cas&s(95.0%) of primary dilated cardiomyopathy were diagnosed within 3 year of age, but sacondary dilated cardiomyopathy did not show any age prevalence during childhood. 2) Secondary dilated cardiomyopathies were late sequelae of myocarditis, or due to uremia and/or hypertension, the toxicity of adriamycin, or endocardial fibroelastosis. ' 3) The older the age at diagnosis and the better initial echocardiographic findings including shortening fraction, LVSTI&EPSS and the higher incidence of cardiac murmur probably secondary to mitral regurgitation, the longer the survival in the group (Group 1) of patients with primary dilated cardiom yopathy. These findings are suggestive of possible relationship with longer survival in primary dilated cardiomyopathy. 4) Echocardiographic examination was a most important and useful noninvasive method for diagnosis, evaluation of clinical course & prognosis of dilated carpiomyopathy in children. LVIDd, shortening fraction, LVSTI & EPSS were good echocardiographic index of left ventricular function, and LVSTI was the most sensitive & useful method in children. 5) General prognosis of primary dilated cardiomyopathy is poor, but active treatment with digoxin, diuretics & vasodilator significantly improved the clinical status in many patient with primary dilated, cardiomyopathy eventually extending their survival time. 6) Active management of treatable underlying disease in secondary cardiomyopathy also improved the the clinical status eventually extending the survival time.

Keywords :Dilated cardiomyopathy; Children; Echocardiography