cardiomyopathy

[ kahr-dee-oh-mahy-op-uh-thee ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. any disease of the heart muscle, leading to decreased function: usually of unknown cause.

cardiomyopathy

/ ˌkɑːdɪəʊmaɪˈɒpəθɪ /

noun

1. pathol a disease of the heart muscle usually caused by a biochemical defect or a toxin such as alcohol

cardiomyopathy

/ kär′dē-ō-mī-ŏp′ə-thē /

1. Any of various structural or functional abnormalities of the cardiac muscle, usually characterized by loss of muscle efficiency and sometimes heart failure. Cardiomyopathy can result from numerous causes, including congenital defects, acute or chronic infections, coronary artery disease, drugs and toxins, metabolic disorders, connective tissue disorders, or nutritional deficiencies. In some patients, the cause is unknown.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cardiomyopathy¹

First recorded in 1960–65; cardio- + myopathy

Example Sentences

Miss Ahmed was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at the age of 15.

From BBC

The official cause of death was "dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure".

From BBC

Sawusch died as a result of two heart conditions, the pathologist concluded: dilated cardiomyopathy and a congenitally narrow coronary artery.

From Los Angeles Times

Heart damage related to chemotherapy treatment can surface decades after treatment and can result in heart attacks, heart failure, cardiomyopathy and other types of heart disease.

From Science Daily

Six children had systolic heart failure caused by a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle becomes enlarged and weakened and does not pump correctly.

From Science Daily