Dilated cardiomyopathy physical examination

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Physical Examination

The clinical presentation of dilated cardiomyopathy is similar to that heart failure from any cause. Dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, lower extremity edema and orthostasis / syncope are all common findings in dilated cardiomyopathy. In addition, dilated cardiomyopathy may present as palpitations as a result of arrhythmia (ventricular or atrial) with the most common arrhythmia being atrial fibrillation. Dilated cardiomyopathy may also present as sudden cardiac death or as CVA (cerebrovascular accident) or other embolic phenomenon (either from associated atrial fibrillation or from ventricular thrombi as a result of dilated ventricular cavities).

Angina is not a common feature of dilated cardiomyopathy unless the cause is related to coronary artery disease. If angina is present a work up for cardiac ischemia should be undertaken.