Myocardiopathies. A review.

The author offers a critical review of the present knowledge about myocardiopathies and points out discordant opinions of various authors. He presents his own classification of this inhomogeneous group of myocardial diseases, based on the etiological principle. Special attention is given to the present status of diagnostic methods, the author pointing out the nonspecificity of individual signs and symptoms of the disease. It is emphasized that in two thirds of patients even a general practitioner is capable of diagnosing myocardiopathy on the basis of routine cardiological examinations (patient's history, physical examination, ECG and X-ray). This is of great practical importance because the prognosis--although essentially unfavourable--depends to a great extent on an early diagnosis. Finally, principles of therapy at myocardiopathies are presented.