[Echocardiography methods in the diagnosis of cardiomyopathies in children].

We investigated 59 children with cardiomyopathy (CMP) by echocardiographic methods (ECHO). 29 children with dilated CMP showed typical enlargement of the left ventricle 159 +/- 31%, xxx; (% of normal value +/- SD) and of the left atrium (143 +/- 27%, xxx). Systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle were decreased, systolic change in size of the left ventricle % delta D = 16 +/- 7%; xxx; systolic change in area of the left ventricle % delta A = 20 +/- 8%; xxx; maximum filling rate of the left ventricle in the phase of quick filling E max = 0.37 +/- 0.09 m. sec-1, xxx; the percentage of filling in the first third of diastole 0.33 DA = 37 +/- 9%, xx. Mitral insufficiency was found by us in 81% of children. In 25 children with hypertrophic CMP the size of left ventricle was decreased (81 +/- 13%, xxx). Asymmetric septal hypertrophy was found by us in 69% of children, symmetric hypertrophy in 27%, local hypertrophy of the apex in 4%. Systolic function of the left ventricle was increased (% delta D = 47 +/- 10%, xxx; % delta A = 70 +/- 10%, xxx). Diastolic dysfunction manifested itself by reduced E max (0.71 +/- 0.19 m.sec-1, xx) and 0.33 DA (45 +/- 12%, x). Mitral insufficiency was found in 54% of the children. In the case of the 5 children with restrictive CMP an extreme enlargement of left atrium (195 +/- 41%, xxx) was typical, as well as diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (0.33 DA = 67 +/- 6%, x).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)