Clinical Presentation of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Children

Abstract

Study Design: Descriptive Case series.  
Place and Duration of Study: This Study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Bolan Medical Complex 
Hospital, Quetta during a period of 1 year.  
Patients and Methods: Following patients were included in this study; that had tachycardia, respiratory distress, 
and heart failure. Following patients were excluded from this study; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive 
cardiomyopathy, coronary artery anomalies, congenital heart disease, Rheumatic carditis and RHD. 50 Patients were 
included and their clinical variables, laboratory parameters and echocardiograms were analyzed.  
Results: Out of 50 patients, 5 died, all these were 10 years or older. The following symptoms were found to be 
clinically significant. Respiratory distress p<0.05, poor feeding p<0.05. The signs were clinically significant. 
Arrhythmia p<0.05, Fever p<0.05, Tachycardia p<0.05, Tachypnea p<0.05, Hepatosplenomegaly p< 0.05, gallop 
rhythm p<0.05. Other significant findings were: X-ray chest, increased cardio thoracic ratio p<0.05. On 
echocardiography increased dimension >115 and ejection fraction <20% p<0.05, ST segment changes and T wave 
abnormality p<0.05.  
Conclusion: High index of suspicion followed by appropriate investigation can lead to correct diagnosis.