Primary myocardial disease.

THE TERM primary myocardial disease refers to a variety of cardiac enlargement which is of unknown cause and frequently leads to cardiac dilatation, congestive heart failure, and finally to death. There are a number of synonyms. The disorder is also called idiopathic myocardial hypertrophy,' myocardiopathy, cardiac hypertrophy of unknown cause, and, especially in Great Britain, cardiomyopathy. In some centers the term "myocardosis" is used, although myocardlosis includes, in addition to primary myocardial disease of unknown origin, certain specific etiologic diseases of the heart such as beriberi, amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, and von Gierke's disease.