THE CARDIOMYOPATHIES Part I. INTRODUCTION

Abstract

Ever since William Harevy’s discovery, the physiologists have viewed the heart as a muscular pump inserted in to the circulation to provide continuous flow of blood to the tissues of the body.From this point of view,valves are considered essential to give direction to the stream and the cardiac performance is characterized predominantly in terms of its pumping efficiency.

The use of low (lose intraniuscular • heparin (50 mg/12 hours) as a prophylaxis should be consi1ered in cardiornyopathic Patients ho are confined to bed, The logic of treating bacterial pneumonias and other .coexistent systemic . dig— eases is obvious. Specific treatment of cardio— myopathies is dependent upon the early recognib t.ion of the eto!ogtcal cause.