Case report: dilated cardiomyopathy - a successful response to treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cause of congestive cardiac failure all over the world. The incidence is 5-8 cases per 100 000 population per year, men suffer 2- 3 times more often than women, mean age of patients - 30 to 45 years, rarely it is met in elderly patients, as it was in our case. Regardless of the type of DCM, many years they are asymptomatic and first manifestation usually being an advanced state with features of congestive cardiac failure III-IV (NYHA) or with complications like arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death and have a high mortality rate of 15.0-50.0% at 5 years. Treatment of DCM is aimed to reduce the congestive symptoms and the number of episodes of decompensations and to improve the quality of life. Materials and methods: We present a literary reference to cardiomyopathy and a clinical case of DCM. Demonstration of a case is of great interest to clinicians in terms of the relevance of the disease. Results: This is a report of successful management of a patient with severe DCM, who was admitted at the first time with congestive heart failure IV (NYHA), severe multiple valvular insufficiencies, which after 3 weeks of conservative treatment was compensated till CHF III (NYHA). After undergoing a successful heart surgery with aortic and mitral valve prostheses has returned to normal life. Conclusions: The outlook for patients with cardiac failure has improved substantially in the last 15 years. This is largely due to the application of the results of multicentre clinical trials of new and older drugs and a better understanding of outcomes for individual patients. The following case study has been chosen to illustrate the basis for therapeutic management of congestive heart failure. Critical to the success of heart failure management is the discharge planning process and follow-up in the outpatient setting.