Recurrence of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with restored idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In some patients with nonischemic idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

(DCM), left ventricular (LV) dysfunction improves spontaneously but can recur.

The factors predicting recurrence of LV dysfunction in recovered idiopathic DCM

are poorly defined. We investigated the clinical, echocardiographic, and

laboratory variables affecting recurrence of LV dysfunction in patients who

recovered from DCM. HYPOTHESIS: The recurrence of LV dysfunction in recovered

idiopathic DCM is impacted by clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory

variables. METHODS: The study comprised 85 consecutively enrolled patients (62

males, age 57 +/- 16 years) with DCM who achieved a restoration of LV systolic

function. Patients were followed up for 50 +/- 33 months after recovery from LV

dysfunction without discontinuation of standard medication for heart failure with

depressed ejection fraction. Clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory

variables were analyzed to identify factors independently associated with

recurrence of LV dysfunction. RESULTS: LV dysfunction recurred in 33 patients (23

males, age 64 +/- 12 years). Univariate analysis revealed that age, duration from

initial presentation to recovery time, diabetes, and LV end-diastolic dimension

(LVEDD) at initial presentation were associated with recurrence of LV

dysfunction. Multivariate analysis revealed that only age, diabetes, and LVEDD at

initial presentation were independent predictors in patients who recovered from

LV dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence of LV dysfunction was significantly

correlated with age, presence of diabetes, and LVEDD at initial presentation.

Clinicians should consider maintenance of intensive care to patients who

recovered from DCM with these factors.