What are the causes of cardiomyopathy?
The cause of most cases of cardiomyopathy is unknown. A common cause is a viral infection of the heart, or myocarditis, which weakens the heart muscle. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can run in families and genetic causes have been identified. There are several metabolic disorders as well as congenital muscle disorders that can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy. A persistent rhythm abnormality can lead to weakening of the heart. Problems of the coronary arteries, either congenital or acquired, can eventually lead to cardiomyopathy. Although there is a long list of possible causes of cardiomyopathy, few of them are directly treatable and most therapy is aimed at treating the secondary effects on the heart.
