Myocardiodystrophy( myocardial dystrophy) - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.

Myocardial dystrophy( myocardial dystrophy) is a disease that occurs when metabolic processes in the heart muscle are disturbed. Myocardial dystrophy can be completely or partially cured if the root cause is eliminated.

Myocardial dystrophy is always a complication of a disease, which, as a rule, is accompanied by a violation of the normal nutrition of the heart muscle. Myocardial dystrophy leads to a decrease in the tone of the muscular system of the heart and in the end of the disease causes the formation of heart failure.

Causes of myocardial dystrophy

About a hundred years ago the Russian scientist G.F.Lang proposed classification of myocardial dystrophy based on the primary disease, which caused heart damage. This classification is relevant in our days. To the emergence of myocardial dystrophy can lead:

• heart disease - myocarditis, cardiomyopathy.
• "non-cardiac" diseases: anemia( lowering hemoglobin and red blood cells);chronic tonsillitis;poisoning, including occupational hazards, as well as accumulation in the body of medicinal products( hormonal drugs, cytotoxic drugs, antibiotics) with long-term admission;diseases of the thyroid gland, accompanied by hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis;severe chronic diseases. In a special group of reasons for the development of myocardial dystrophy, there are overloads in sports. In this case, myocardial dystrophy is formed when the reserves of the heart are depleted.

Under these reasons, the heart begins to lack energy. In addition, the cells of the muscular system of the heart accumulate harmful metabolic products, which have a pronounced damaging effect. This leads to the death of the functionally active tissue of the heart and the replacement of its rough scar tissue that does not have the ability to contract. The cavities of the heart expand, the muscle contractions become weak, insufficient to meet the body's need for oxygen and nutrients. Heart failure is formed.

Possible symptoms of myocardial dystrophy

External manifestations of myocardial dystrophy are extremely diverse - from a complete absence of complaints to severe heart failure, accompanied by shortness of breath, swelling, and lowering of pressure.

The disease begins invisibly. Many patients complain of pain in the region of the heart, arising from psychoemotional overstrain or with intense physical activity, which completely go away at rest. Often, the sick do not pay attention to these symptoms, they do not apply for medical help. After a few years, shortness of breath joins, swelling of the lower extremities, more pronounced towards evening, palpitations, irregularities in the heart, marked general weakness. Unfortunately, the appearance of such complaints indicates that the patient is progressing with heart failure, and time is lost.

Diagnosis of myocardial dystrophy

Myocardial dystrophy in most percent of cases is a complication of any disease. Therefore, even with the first exposure to the patient, you can identify the signs of a disease - the cause of myocardial dystrophy. For example, a decrease in the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin concentration in a general blood test indicates anemia. Ultrasound of the thyroid gland and the determination of the basic hormones helps in the diagnosis of the disease of this organ. Occupation of sports in the past or currently speaks of a "pathological sports heart" as a possible cause of myocardial dystrophy.

ECG data are very important for diagnosing the disease. With myocardial dystrophy, an ECG is determined by a violation of the heart rhythm that does not have any effect on the patient's quality of life and may not be felt at all. In addition, specific signs of reducing the contractility of the heart are noteworthy.

ultrasound of the heart has only an auxiliary value for the diagnosis of myocardial dystrophy, since changes will be detected only in the progression of heart failure. With severe heart failure with ultrasound, the expansion of the heart chambers and the reduction of contractility are determined.

The most accurate diagnosis of myocardial dystrophy is made only on the basis of a biopsy( sampling of muscle tissue) of the heart, but the difficulty of performing this procedure, as well as the high danger for the patient, does not allow using this method in all suspicious cases.

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging can become a kind of breakthrough in the diagnosis of myocardial damage to the heart. The patient will be administered radioactive phosphorus, after which it is planned to evaluate the content of this element in the cells of the muscle tissue of the heart. A reduced amount of phosphorus suggests a decrease in the energy reserve of the heart. Currently, this method of diagnosis is under development.

Treatment of myocardial dystrophy

Patients without severe heart failure may undergo treatment in a clinic under the supervision of a therapist or a cardiologist. The main method of treating myocardial dystrophy is the treatment of the disease that caused it. As a rule, with successful treatment of the underlying disease, myocardial dystrophy cures completely or significantly reduces its severity.

In case of thyroid disease, the patient goes under the supervision of an endocrinologist who recommends specific hormonal therapy.

Anemia after the elimination of the cause is treated with iron preparations, erythropoietin, and also vitamins.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs may be recommended for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis. If there is no effect, tonzillectomy should be performed - surgical removal of the tonsils.

After myocarditis, signs of a disturbed eating of the heart muscle can persist for a year or more. During this period, cardiotrophic( for cardiovascular) medicines should be recommended. A similar tactic of treatment is also used for poisoning. Cardiotropic drugs are prescribed to normalize the processes of metabolism in the cardiac muscle. The most common drugs from this group are: vitamins B6 and C, folic acid, as well as preparations of magnesium and potassium( panangin, magnerot).The most complete assimilation of nutrients is expected when using mildronate, riboxin, retabolil.

For pains in the heart area associated with psychoemotional overstrain, it is possible to use soothing drugs such as Validol, Corvalolum, Novopassita, Valerian tincture, Leonurus.

In arrhythmias, calcium channel blockers( verapamil), beta-blockers( metoprolol) or cordarone are recommended.

Patient monitoring is performed before the disappearance of external manifestations and the normalization of the ECG.During this time, patients are assigned a specific course of physiotherapy, children are transferred to the preparatory group for physical education at school. A mandatory examination should be conducted to identify foci of chronic infection( diseased teeth, inflamed tonsils), and subsequent sanitation of these foci. After recovery, courses of treatment with cardiotropic drugs with a minimum duration of about one month should be carried out for several years 2-3 times a year.

Possible complications of myocardial dystrophy

With the progression of the disease, the risk of developing heart failure increases.

Prognosis for myocardiodystrophy

In the treatment of a disease that has led to myocardial dystrophy, complete recovery is possible. With the development of heart failure, the prognosis is serious, depends on the severity of the process. In advanced cases, heart transplant may be required.

Prevention of myocardial dystrophy

Prevention should be aimed at eliminating provoking factors for those diseases that can cause myocardial dystrophy. Common activities are: regular, regular meals with enough vitamins and microelements;dosed physical exercises with regard to sex and age;timely sanation of foci of chronic infection, prevention of the effect on the body of toxic substances, including the refusal to unreasonably use a large number of drugs.

Doctor therapist Sirotkina EV