Dilated Cardiomyopathies in Childhood: Predictive factors of prognosis

The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 105 children between 15 days and 15 years of age with dilated cardiomyopathies exaamined at the Hacettepe University Pediatric Cardiology Unit between 1984 and 1989 were reviewed. Prognostic factor and results were determined after a mean follow-up period of 24±5 months. The improvement rate was 38%, the clinical status was stable in 41%, while 9% of the patients deteriorated and the fatality rate was 12%. Consanguinous marriage, siblings with cardiomyopathy, the presence of arrhythmia in the initial cloctrocardigrophic evaluation were determined to be poor prognostic factors while onset of symptoms below two years of age were good prognostic signs.