Which echocardiographic finding is typical of alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy?

Which echocardiographic finding is typical of alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy?

• A. Thin ventricular walls with a dilated left ventricle and reduced ejection fraction
• B. Thickened ventricular walls with preserved ejection fraction
• C. Normal left ventricle with preserved ejection fraction
• D. Localized thickening of ventricular wall

Answer: (A)

Alcohol-related dilated cardiomyopathy causes toxic injury to heart muscle that leads to dilation of the left ventricle and poor contractile function. On an echocardiogram, this shows up as a dilated left ventricle with thinner walls due to remodeling, and a reduced ejection fraction because the weakened myocardium can’t pump effectively. This combination—left ventricular dilation with systolic dysfunction and low EF—is the hallmark of alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy. The other patterns don’t fit: thickened walls with preserved EF suggest hypertrophic or concentric remodeling rather than dilation; a normal left ventricle with preserved EF indicates no cardiomyopathy; localized thickening points to regional hypertrophy or scar, not diffuse dilation.

Alcohol-related dilated cardiomyopathy causes toxic injury to heart muscle that leads to dilation of the left ventricle and poor contractile function. On an echocardiogram, this shows up as a dilated left ventricle with thinner walls due to remodeling, and a reduced ejection fraction because the weakened myocardium can’t pump effectively. This combination—left ventricular dilation with systolic dysfunction and low EF—is the hallmark of alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy.

The other patterns don’t fit: thickened walls with preserved EF suggest hypertrophic or concentric remodeling rather than dilation; a normal left ventricle with preserved EF indicates no cardiomyopathy; localized thickening points to regional hypertrophy or scar, not diffuse dilation.