Pragmatic electrocardiogram tracings in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy: diagnostic and prognostic role

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a primitive heart muscle disease characterized by a great heterogeneous aetiology and prognostic outcome. Dilated cardiomyopathy is an umbrella term encompassing different aetiologies that might require specific treatments. It principally affects young and male adults, with high-risk arrhythmic competitive risk. Unfortunately, the prevention of major ventricular arrhythmic events remains a clinical challenge. In the era of advanced multimodality imaging and widely available genetic testing, electrocardiogram (ECG) continues to represent a reliable diagnostic tool, for specific work up of every single patient. However, approaching DCM patients, only a cardiomyopathy-oriented reading makes the role of ECG central in the management of DCM, both for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic management. In this paper, we present four ECGs of four different DCM patients, in order to guide a cardiomyopathy-oriented ECG reading, emphasizing its impact in an early, cost-effective, and personalized diagnostic and prognostic work up in this specific setting.