Growth Parameters Changes (Weight and Height ) in DCM with Acute and Chronic LV Dysfunction

Background: The growth failure is one of the most significant problem in children with dilated cardiomyopathy, one third of those with  DCM have growth failure. Echocardiography regarded as  the corner stone in the diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. Material and methods: This study included 48 child with dilated cardiomyopathy with LV dysfunction, that diagnosed clinically by history, clinical examination, electrocardiography and echocardiography, including 2D-echocardiography, M-mode and Doppler study. Those patient were subdivided to 15 child present with acute heart failure (Acute DCM) (8 female and 7 male), and 33 child who are known cases of dilated cardiomyopathy reported in the cardiology out clinic with chronic LV dysfunction (18 female and 15 male) ,both groups followed for one year with regular clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic evaluation during treatment coarse for LV dysfunction. another 48 control  healthy child with same age groups involved in the study (25 female and 23male), the age of both patient and control groups ranging from 1month- 12 years.Results: All patient had  LV dysfunction at the time of attendance . In this study, most patient that had  DCM  with acute LV dysfunction had normal weight and height at the time of attendance, but after one year , those with LV dysfunction in spite of treatment had defective weight and height, but those with chronic LV dysfunction, that develop normal cardiac function after one year of treatment will improve their weight and height after one year treatment and follow up.Conclusions: Most children with chronic dilated cardiomyopathy have delayed growth regarding weight and height with decrease hemoglobin level .The improvement in the cardiac function of some patients usually followed by increment in their body weight and height over the periods of follow up