Open AccessAlcoholic cardiomyopathy
Author(s) -
Gonzalo Guzzo-Merello,
Marta CoboMarcos,
María GallegoDelgado,
Pablo GarcíaPavía
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of cardiology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1949-8462
DOI - 10.4330/wjc.v6.i8.771
Subject(s) - medicine , alcoholic cardiomyopathy , cardiomyopathy , heart failure , dilated cardiomyopathy , cardiac dysfunction , cardiology , alcohol consumption , alcohol , heart disease , biochemistry , chemistry
Alcohol is the most frequently consumed toxic substance in the world. Low to moderate daily intake of alcohol has been shown to have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. In contrast, exposure to high levels of alcohol for a long period could lead to progressive cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Cardiac dysfunction associated with chronic and excessive alcohol intake is a specific cardiac disease known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). In spite of its clinical importance, data on ACM and how alcohol damages the heart are limited. In this review, we evaluate available evidence linking excessive alcohol consumption with heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. Additionally, we discuss the clinical presentation, prognosis and treatment of ACM.