Probing the heart of cardiomyopathies

Abstract

Current knowdedge of aetiopathogenesis of various forms of human cardiomopathy is reviewed in this article. There are overwhelming evidences to suggest a pathogenetic link between persistent viral infection, induction of autoimmunity (influenced by immune response determinants in the HLA region) and alteration in the differentiated functions of the myocardium in dilated cardiomyopathy. Genentic studies have identified specific defects in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but the cellular basis of the disease remains unresolved. Endomyocardial diseases associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome and endomyocardial fibrosis of the tropics appear to be two separate entities. A unifying link among endomyocardial fibrosis of diverse causes could be the uniform response of the cardiac tissue to injuries of heterogenous nature. Application of microtechniques to endomyocardial biosy promises definitive information on aetiopathogenesis of cardiomypathies.