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Ischemic cardiomyopathy - Overview

Alternative Names

Ischemic heart disease; Cardiomyopathy - ischemic

Definition of Ischemic cardiomyopathy:

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a term used to describe patients whose heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of their body due to coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

These patients often haveheart failure.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is caused by coronary heart disease -- the buildup of a hard substance called plaque in the arteries to the heart. This may also be called hardening of the arteries.

When the arteries that bring blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked or very narrowed, over time, the heart muscle does not work as well. It becomes harder for the heart to fill and pump blood to the body. Patients with this condition usually have a history of heart attacks or angina (chest pain).

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a common cause of heart failure. It is the most common type of cardiomyopathy in the United States. It most often affects middle-aged and elderly people.

For risk factors, see: Coronary heart disease

Reviewed last on: 5/23/2011
Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Morrow DA, Boden WE. Stable ischemic heart disease. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa; Saunders Elsevier;2011:chap 57.

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