CARDIOMYOPATHY AND ALCOHOL

SUMMARY: Sixteen cases are described who had evidence of primary myocardial disease in which alcohol was considered to be of aetiological significance. The majority of those presenting with cardiovascular symptoms were of the thiamine responsive type. These patients had a lower alcohol consumption and shorter duration of symptoms than cases described in recent British literature and explanatory features of this are noted. One case of sudden death was considered to be due to alcoholic myocardiopathy