Dilated Cardiomyopathy. From Genetics to Clinical Management

Foreword
Preface
1.Introduction
2.Epidemiology
3.Pathophysiology
4.Etiological definition and diagnostic work-up
5.Role of genetics and environmental factors
6.Clinical presentation, spectrum of disease, natural history
7.Role of cardiac imaging: echocardiography
8.Role of cardiac imaging: cardiac magnetic resonance and computed tomography
9.Endomyocardial biopsy
10.Arrhythmias in dilated cardiomyopathies
11.Regenerative medicine and dilated cardiomyopathy
12.Prognostic stratification and importance of follow-up
13.Current management and treatment
14.Unresolved issues and future perspectives
15.Dilated cardiomyopathy at the cross road: multidisciplinary approach

This open access book presents a comprehensive overview of dilated cardiomyopathy, providing readers with practical guidelines for its clinical management. The first part of the book analyzes in detail the disease's pathophysiology, its diagnostic work up as well as the prognostic stratification, and illustrates the role of genetics and gene-environment interaction. The second part presents current and future treatment options, highlighting the importance of long-term and individualized treatments and follow-up.

Furthermore, it discusses open issues, such as the apparent healing phenomenon, the early prognosis of arrhythmic events or the use of genetic testing in clinical practice.

Offering a multidisciplinary approach for optimizing the clinical management of DCM, this book is an invaluable aid not only for the clinical cardiologists, but for all physicians involved in the care of this challenging disease.

Gianfranco Sinagra is a full professor of Cardiology at University of Trieste and director of the Cardiovascular Department of the University Hospital Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata, Trieste, Italy, a centre of reference for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathies. He is author of more than 350 peer-reviewed international publications and several books, mostly on prognostic stratification, analysis of subgroups and reviews on dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies and myocarditis. He is editor of following Springer books "Genetic Cardiomyopathies" (2013) and "Clinical Echocardiography and Other Imaging Techniques in Cardiomyopathies" (2014).

Marco Merlo is chief of the Clinical Research of Cardiovascular Department and of Heart Muscle Disease Registry of Trieste, that currently enrolls more than 2000 cardiomyopathy patients, 1200 of which are affected by dilated cardiomyopathy. His expertise covers the management of cardiomyopathy outpatients as well as inpatients. He is author of more than 70 peer-reviewed international publications, mostly on prognostic stratification, analysis of subgroups and reviews on dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies and myocarditis.

Bruno Pinamonti is chief of the Echo Lab at the Cardiovascular Department of Trieste. He is an international expert on echo imaging in cardiomyopathies, specialized in dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. He is author of more than 120 peer-reviewed international publications and several books, mostly on prognostic stratification, analysis of subgroups on dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies and myocarditis, including the Springer book "Clinical Echocardiography and Other Imaging Techniques in Cardiomyopathies" (2014).

All Editors have published peer-reviewed papers about cardiomyopathies in the major international medical journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of American College of Cardiology, Circulation and the European Heart Journal.