Improvement in cardiac function and free fatty acid metabolism in a case of dilated cardiomyopathy with CD36 deficiency

A 27-year-old man diagnosed as having dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) without myocardial accumulation of I-123-beta-methyl-iodophenylpentadecanoic acid, and he was found to have type I CD36 deficiency. This abnormality of cardia c free fatty acid metabolism was also confirmed by other methods: F-18-fluo ro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography, measurements of myocardial respiratory quotient and cardiac fatty acid uptake. Although the type I CD3 6 deficiency was reconfirmed after 3 months, the abnormal free fatty acid m etabolism improved after carvedilol therapy and was accompanied by improved cardiac function. Apart from a cause-and-effect relationship, carvedilol c an improve cardiac function and increase free fatty acid metabolism in pati ents with both DCM and CD36 deficiency.