Dilated Cardiomyopathy
How We Can Help You
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common form of heart muscle disease. It occurs when the lower chambers of the heart, called ventricles, enlarge over time and pump blood less efficiently. When caught early, dilated cardiomyopathy is usually treatable. If untreated, it can lead to life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities and heart failure.
Our cardiomyopathy team takes a personalized approach to diagnosing and treating dilated cardiomyopathy. We use the most up-to-date tests to tailor your treatment and monitor your heart over time. We also specialize in determining when dilated cardiomyopathy is caused by an inherited difference in your genetic makeup, and when it is not.
Our internationally recognized genetic counseling service works with you and your medical team to discuss whether genetic testing makes sense for you and your family. The results of this testing may provide important treatment guidance and help your family to know who is at risk for DCM.
What We Offer You For Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Internationally recognized expertise, especially in familial dilated cardiomyopathy, where we explore the genetic causes, improve testing, and collaborate in global research efforts.
- Team-based planning, bringing together cardiologists who focus exclusively on cardiomyopathy with specialized cardiovascular nurses and genetic counselors to provide complete care.
- Sophisticated diagnosis with genetic testing and other tests that can find early signs of disease, including specialized treadmill echocardiograms.
- Latest treatments, with a range of medication options and procedures.
- Genetic counseling to help you assess and manage your family’s risk of DCM, including coordinated care with Stanford Children’s Health for specialized pediatric care.
- Comprehensive support services to help with diet, medications, family planning, and the emotional challenges of diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Our goal is to care for your heart, so you can focus on your life. You can feel confident in your care, because we bring together a team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, genetic counselors, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other experts to work together on your behalf. We also partner with Stanford’s Neuromuscular Program to provide comprehensive heart care for people who have muscular dystrophies and are at an increased risk for heart failure and life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities.
Before making recommendations, we thoroughly review your medical history and use the latest imaging techniques to evaluate the structure and function of your heart. Our program continues to advance diagnostic standards, with one recent study showing that combining treadmill tests with echocardiograms can result in more effective treatment planning.
Moving Research Forward
We actively collaborate with leading research groups working to better understand idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Stanford is a member of the Dilated Cardiomyopathy Consortium and a site for the Dilated Cardiomyopathy Research Study.
Genetic Counseling
Genetic counselors guide you and your family through the process of learning who else may develop cardiomyopathy. Genetic counselors have special training to complete a detailed family history, recommend cardiac tests, and interpret the results of genetic testing. Genetic testing is typically used to clarify which members of your family are also at risk, but sometimes these results can guide your treatment plan, too. For example, certain genetic causes of DCM are linked with an increased risk for life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities and require specific treatment recommendations. Learn about our genetic counseling
Depending on your needs, your care plan may include one or a combination of these treatment options:
Monitoring
Some people may need only regular checkups to discuss possible symptoms and look for signs of cardiomyopathy via heart testing and physical examination. At-risk family members may also need to have similar checkups.
Medications and lifestyle changes
Your medical team may recommend medications to stabilize or improve your heart function. If dilated cardiomyopathy runs in your family, medications may help prevent the enlargement of your heart.
Lifestyle changes can also help manage symptoms. Our dietitians help you adopt new habits to improve your overall heart health and reduce fluid buildup.
Implantable devices
Over time, some people with dilated cardiomyopathy develop an arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm. To keep your heartbeat normal, your medical team may recommend a pacemaker, which is an implanted device that uses electricity to regulate your heartbeat. To protect you from life-threatening heart rhythms (ventricular tachycardia), your medical team may recommend an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which can provide a lifesaving shock when it is needed. We implant these devices using minimally invasive procedures.
Heart surgery
In rare cases, advanced dilated cardiomyopathy may lead to severe heart failure, which requires more significant interventions such as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplant. Stanford surgeons are internationally recognized for their expertise in these treatments, many of which were pioneered here at Stanford.
Additional support
We understand that living with a chronic heart condition can present challenges. Our team includes psychologists who are specially trained in the needs of cardiovascular patients. These experts provide behavioral therapy and other services to promote your resilience and help you adjust to your diagnosis. They also can help you to make important lifestyle adjustments and manage health-related stresses.
Clinical Trials for Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Clinical trials for dilated cardiomyopathy test new treatments. When appropriate, these studies may provide you with a chance to try the latest treatment options.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
What Is Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
World leaders in dilated cardiomyopathy provide your care, searching for potential genetic causes and protecting you against heart failure and arrhythmia.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Heart failure
arrhythmia
enlarged heart
ventricular tachycardia
dilated cardiomyopathy causes
dilated cardiomyopathy symptoms
familial dilated cardiomyopathy
Familial dilated cardiomyopathy
DCM