Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Primary Congestive Cardiomyopathy

¹ Department of Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles

Twelve patients with primary congestive cardiomyopathy (CC) were studied by echocardiography. The echocardiographic features of congestive cardiomyopathy were: end-diastolic volume significantly larger and ejection fraction significantly lower than normal (P<0.005); the posterior left ventricular wall motion markedly reduced, 8 ± 2 mm (normal 16 ± 2 mm, P<0.005). The comparison of echocardiographic measurements in ten cases with significant rheumatic valvular regurgitation (RHD) showed no significant difference in the end-diastolic volume. The ejection fraction in RHD was close to normal and significantly higher than in CC (P<0.025). The most striking difference was in the posterior left ventricular wall motion, which was within normal limits in RHD, but was markedly reduced in CC (P<0.05). Quantitative echocardiography is useful in the diagnosis of primary myocardial disease.