OBESITY-RELATED CARDIOMYOPATHY - REPORT O F A CASE

A case of cardiomyopathy in an obese patient provides the opportunity for reviewing the specific features of this condition. The disease mai nly affects the left ventricle, causing excentric hypertrophy, then di astolic dysfunction, and finally systolic dysfunction. Involvement of the right ventricle should lead to investigations for pulmonary hypert ension, which is often the consequence of sleep apnea syndrome. Patien ts with severe obesity should be investigated by echocardiography in e very case and by sleep studies if appropriate. Management rests on wei ght loss.