Mauliana Budiastuti, Dyah Priyatini
Long-term heavy alcohol consumption is the cause of a nonischemic,
dilated cardiomyopathy, herein referred to as alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM).
ACM is a specific heart muscle disease of a known cause that occurs in two
stages: an asymptomatic stage and a symptomatic stage. In general, alcoholic
patients consuming > 90 g of alcohol a day (approximately seven to eight
standard drinks per day) for > 5 years are at risk for the development of
asymptomatic ACM. Those who continue to drink may become symptomatic and
develop signs and symptoms of heart failure. ACM is characterized by an
increase in myocardial mass, dilation of the ventricles, and wall thinning. The
pathophysiology of ACM is complex and may involve cell death (possibly due to
apoptosis) and changes in many aspects of myocyte function. Alcohol abstinence,
as well as the use of specific heart failure pharmacotherapies, is critical in
improving ventricular function and outcomes in ACM.
