Dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a term used to describe a condition of the heart in which one or more of the chambers of the heart enlarge, or dilate. There are many diseases that can cause a heart to dilate including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, metabolic diseases of the heart, infections and in some cases the cause is not determined. In dilated cardiomyopathy the heart fails to pump adequately. This can result in symptoms such as breathlessness, weakness and swelling.