THE CONTEXT
Dilated cardiomyopathy may present with heart failure or be detected during routine investigation.
Presentation and complications
| Feature | Details |
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Presentation | Patients either present with heart failure or are found to have the condition during routine investigation. |
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Complications | Arrhythmia, thromboembolism and sudden death may occur at any stage, but are more common in advanced disease. |
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Chest pain | Non-exertional chest pain is surprisingly common. |
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Essential diagnostic exclusion
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Coronary artery disease: Ventricular dysfunction due to coronary artery disease is a differential diagnosis and must be excluded before diagnosing dilated cardiomyopathy.