What is the Difference Between Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The key difference between dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is that in dilated cardiomyopathy, the left ventricle dilates and restricts the pumping of blood, while in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the ventricles and interventricular septum thicken, constrict, and restrict the pumping of blood to the body.

Cardiomyopathy is a disease in the heart muscles where it is harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. This condition often leads to heart failure and even sudden death. The main types of cardiomyopathies include dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. These diseases include treatments and medications such as surgically implanted devices, heart surgery, and heart transplant. Generally, there are no signs and symptoms in the early stages of cardiomyopathy. But as the conditions advance or worsen, signs and symptoms appear.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy 
3. What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
4. Similarities – Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
5. Dilated Cardiomyopathy vs Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Dilated Cardiomyopathy vs Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy?

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle in the left ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber. During this condition, the ventricles weaken, enlarge, and restrict the pumping mechanism of blood. Over time, both ventricles may be damaged. Generally, dilated cardiomyopathy does not cause significant symptoms. However, it is life-threatening and is a common cause for heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy also leads to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), blood clots, and sudden death. The disease is usually due to diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, excess iron in the heart and other organs, pregnancy complications, and some infections. Other minor causes include alcohol usage, cancer medications, use of illegal drugs, and exposure to toxins.

Symptoms of this condition include fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, pounding heart, chest pain, and sometimes heart murmurs. Long-term high blood pressure, family history of heart failure and cardiac arrest, heart muscle inflammation and damages, and neuromuscular disorders are a few risk factors for dilated cardiomyopathy. Heart failure, heart valve regurgitation, heart rhythm problems, sudden cardiac arrest, and blood clots are complications that can occur due to this disease. Dilated cardiomyopathy is usually not preventable. However, reducing smoking and consumption of alcohol and drugs, healthy diet with low salt intake, healthy weight, managing stress, getting enough sleep and rest help to prevent or reduce dilated cardiomyopathy.

What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease where the heart muscles become abnormally thick. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mostly affects the interventricular septum and ventricles. Consequently, the heart fails to pump blood effectively and may also cause electrical conduction problems. People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy show various symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, and leg swellings. However, this disease is often undiagnosed, and people may lead normal lives with no significant problems. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is also life-threatening and causes sudden death.

A major cause for this disease is gene mutations; therefore, it is inherited. The muscular wall between the two ventricles (interventricular septum and ventricles) becomes thicker than normal, and this blocks the blood flow out of the heart. This condition is known as obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The left ventricle, which is the heart’s main pumping chamber, becomes stiff. This makes the heart contract and reduces the amount of blood the ventricle can hold and pump to the body. This condition has an abnormal arrangement of heart muscles, which is known as myofibril disarray and triggers arrhythmias.

Atrial fibrillation, blocked blood flow, problems in the mitral valve, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and sudden death are the complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. There is no known prevention for this disease; however, proper treatment may prevent complications. Doctors usually recommend echocardiograms on a regular basis and genetic testing to screen the severity of the condition of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

What are the Similarities Between Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

• Dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are two conditions associated with the cardiac system.
• Both cardiomyopathies occur in ventricles.
• They restrict the pumping of blood to the body.
• Moreover, in both conditions, complications such as arrhythmias, blood clots, and sudden death can be observed.
• They show symptoms such as fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, pounding heart, and chest pain.

What is the Difference Between Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

In dilated cardiomyopathy, the left ventricle dilates and restricts the pumping of blood while, in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the ventricles and interventricular septum become thick, constrict, and restrict the pumping of blood to the body. Thus, this is the key difference between dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Moreover, the chest radiograph in dilated cardiomyopathy shows an enlarged heart and pulmonary congestion. The chest radiograph in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy shows mild cardiomegaly.

The below infographic presents the differences between dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Dilated Cardiomyopathy vs Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease in the heart muscles. Dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are two main types of cardiomyopathy conditions. In dilated cardiomyopathy, the left ventricle dilates and restricts the pumping of blood. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the ventricles and interventricular septum become thick, constrict and restrict the pumping of blood to the body. These diseases often lead to heart failure and sudden death. So, this summarizes the difference between dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Reference:

1. “Dilated Cardiomyopathy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Blausen 0165 Cardiomyopathy Dilated” By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014” WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Blausen 0166 Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic” By Blausen Medical Communications (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia