Which echo finding is associated with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)?

In the context of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), an important echocardiographic finding is the increased left ventricular (LV) mass. DCM is characterized by the dilation and impaired contraction of the left ventricle, leading to volumes that are significantly larger than normal. As the heart becomes dilated, the muscle walls may thicken, contributing to an increase in overall LV mass.

This increase in mass is a result of the heart's adaptive response to the volume overload caused by the impaired systolic function. It is essential to monitor LV mass as it provides insights into the severity of the disease and potential outcomes for the patient. Changes in LV mass can also be linked to hypertrophy, which can occur as the walls attempt to compensate for poor pumping action, further emphasizing the importance of this measurement in DCM.

Other findings, such as stroke volume changes, the sphericity index, and isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT), may be impacted by DCM but are not as directly associated with the fundamental structural changes observed in this condition as the increase in LV mass is. Thus, increased LV mass remains a key echocardiographic marker associated with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.