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Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which there is abnormal heart muscle. Although there are several different kinds of cardiomyopathy, the two most common types are Dilated Cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by poor heart function, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle is abnormally thick. Either form of cardiomyopathy can be due to many causes, such as infection (myocarditis), a birth defect of the heart (congenital heart disease), or a familial disorder with an abnormal gene that effects the heart muscle. Some patients with cardiomyopathy have disorders that affect other organ systems as well, such as Duchene's muscular dystrophy or metabolic diseases.
The Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Program at Children's Hospital Boston provides advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options for infants, children and adolescents diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Clinical care, information and resources are available for both acute and long-term settings.
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