Pediatricsintermediate
Explain the difference between classifying cardiomyopathies by aetiology and classifying them by structural and functional abnormality.
Answer
Aetiological classification groups cardiomyopathies by cause or suspected cause: primary, secondary, or idiopathic. Structural and functional classification groups them by myocardial phenotype: dilated with systolic dysfunction, hypertrophic with diastolic dysfunction, or restrictive with diastolic and systolic dysfunction.
Explanation
These systems answer different questions. **Aetiological classification** asks what may have caused the disease; for example, a secondary cardiomyopathy may arise with infection or metabolic disease. **Structural and functional classification** describes how the heart muscle appears and performs. A patient can therefore be described using both approaches when the cause and phenotype are known. **Key takeaway:** Cause and phenotype are complementary ways to classify cardiomyopathy.\n\n**Glossary:** **Idiopathic**: With no identified cause. **Myocardial phenotype**: The characteristic structural and functional pattern of the heart muscle.
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