The international symposium organized by the Italian Study Group on Cardiomyopathies (SPIC) and planned by the organiz ing and scientific committees opened with a review of the history of cardiomyopathy over the last 30 years by Goodwin, London (UK) and continued with presentations on all aspects of hyper trophic and dilated cardiomyopathy by a wide spectrum of inter national experts. This book includes mainly the invited contributions, but there are also many original oral presentations. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is well addressed by papers on natural history, ventricular function, ischaemia and arrhythmia. Of particular interest is the note by Bonow, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI; USA), on the effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation with isoprenalin in increasing the rate and extent of left ventricular relaxation, beta-adrenergic blocking agents having no such effect. In contrast, verapamil improves ventricular relaxation as would be expected. These results challenge accepted belief in some ways and indicate that multiple factors - both passive and active - acting on the left ventricle, such as ischaemia, asynchrony, altered left ventricu lar loading and intracellular levels of calcium ions, are all oper ating. These aspects are the more interesting in view of the recent reports of an increase in calcium-channel receptors, but not in beta-adrenergic receptors, in hypertrophic cardiomyo pathy.

Introduction: Thirty Years of Cardiomyopathy

I Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Evolution of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
The Natural History and Clinical Course of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Radionuclide Assessment of Diastolic Function in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Relation to Symptoms and Prognosis
Ischemia, Coronary Blood Flow, and Coronary Reserve in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and Myocardial Ischemia in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Assessment by Radionuclide Methods
Sudden Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Identification and Management of High Risk Patients
Electrophysiologic Studies in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Safety and Relation of Results to Clinical Findings
Cerebral Embolic Risk in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cytogenetic Studies in Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Identification of a Fragile Site on Human Chromosome 16
Medical Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Surgical Results in Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Utility of Intraoperative Echocardiography in Planning Surgical Strategy in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Rational Choice of Medical and/or Surgical Therapy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Changes in Left Ventricular Hemodynamics of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM) Patients Treated with VAT Sequential Pacing
Future Trends in Research in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
II Dilated Cardiomyopathy
1 Pathogenesis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Experimental Viral Myocarditis: Immunopathogenetic Aspects
Dichotomous Effects of Cyclophosphamide in Murine Coxsackievirus B3-Induced Myocarditis
Enterovirus RNA Sequences in Hearts with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Pathogenetic Link Between Virus Infection and Dilated Cardiomyopathy
HLA Haplotype in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Genetically Determined Immune Response Factors of Etiologic Importance?
Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity: Pathogenetic Mechanisms in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Biomolecular Changes in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
The ?-Adrenergic Receptor-G Protein-Adenylate Cyclase Complex in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Immune-Genetic Control of Anti-?-Receptor Antibodies in Human Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Catecholamines, ?-Receptors and Morphology in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Preliminary Report
2 Morphology of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Histopathological Diagnosis of Acute Myocarditis and Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Ultrastructural Changes in Myocarditis and Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Immunofluorescence and Electron-Microscopic Findings in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
3 Clinical Aspects and Treatment of Myocarditis
Natural History of Viral Myocarditis: Critical Viewpoints
Clinical Presentation and Evolution in Treated and Untreated Myocarditis
Immunosuppressive Therapy in Active Myocarditis
Immunosuppressive Therapy in Myocarditis - 24-Month Follow-up
4 Clinical Aspects of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Natural History and Prognosis of Overt Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Myocardial Perfusion and Metabolism in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Multicenter Italian Experience
Essential Ventricular Arrhythmias: An Early Step Toward Cardiomyopathy?
Role of Radionuclide Angiography in the Diagnosis of Early Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias
Italian Multicenter Cardiomyopathy Study Group
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Children
Anatomoclinical Aspects of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Right Ventricular Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: The Clinical Point of View
Arrhythmologic Study in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: Prognostic Implications in Fifty Patients
5 Treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Positive Inotropic Therapy for Chronic Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Failure
Vasodilator Therapy for Cardiomyopathy
Beta-Blockade in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Role of Antiarrhythmic Treatment in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiac Transplantation for Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Long-Term Treatment with Amiodarone for the Prevention of Sudden Death in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.