[Risk stratification in non ischemic cardiomyopathy: a case report--Case 5/2010].

History and Admission Findings: A 65-year-old male patient with rapid increasing shortness of breath and newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation was admitted to our hospital.
Investigations: The ECG revealed atrial fibrillation. Echocardiography showed severe decreased left ventricular function. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan confirmed the severe reduced left ventricular function with a two graded mitral regurgitation as well as a pronounced late enhancement in the posterobasal area of the interventricular septum. Cardiac catheterisation showed mild diffuse atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries without stenotic lesions. Multiple myocardial biopsies of the right ventricle revealed extensive remodelling processes with focal fibrosis in presence of mononuclear cell infiltrates, T-wave alternans and the heart rate variability were positive.
Diagnosis, Treatment and Course: Nonischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) with severe reduced left ventriucular function was diagnosed. After successful electrical cardioversion and initiation of a sufficient heart failure treatment, the clinical symptoms as well as left ventricular function improved significantly.
Conclusion: Risk stratification of sudden cardiac death remains a clinical challenge especially in NICM. Significantly predictors in ischaemic cardiomyopathy, such as heart rate turbulance (HRT) and T-wave alternans, are not useful or have no importance in NICM. However, the prognosis does not correlate with restricted left ventricular function in NICM. Cardiac MRI or marker of autonomic dysfunction could be helpful in risk stratification. How far late enhancement is a surrogate parameter or the real substrate for life threatening arrhythmias is still unclear. Non-invasive risk stratification could be helpful in borderline decisions, however, it should not be taken mandatory. Close-meshed control intervals of the clinical status under optimal medication are recommended, followed by a implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) if needed. ICD implantation is superior to medical treatment in persistent depressed left ventricular function. The ideal time for ICD implantation in newly diagnosed NICM remains unclear at the moment.
(Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York.)