[Value of echocardiography in the etiological diagnosis of cardiac insufficiency].

The role of echocardiography in determining the etiology of heart failure has been evaluated. The study is based on retrospective analysis of 65 patients with either a history of heart failure or with echocardiographically reduced contractility without heart failure. The cause of the cardiac insufficiency was established or confirmed in 54 of 58 patients. The echocardiogram was normal in 4 patients with effort-induced dyspnea. Lastly, echocardiography revealed 7 cases of reduced contractility in patients with cardiomyopathy or coronary heart disease without subjective symptoms of heart failure.