Editorial

Genetics of dilated cardiomyopathy: a molecular maze? Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease characterised by ventricular dilatation and impaired systo-lic function, and is a major cause of severe heart failure. Although familial occurrence of DCM has been reported occasionally, the frequency of familial aetiology has been underestimated in the past. Systematic examination of relatives show that probably> 25–30 % of DCM cases are familial.1 In this context, it is relevant to discuss whether the rapid development of molecular genetics has allowed us to unravel the molecular defect(s) involved in the disease and led to major breakthroughs in the medical manage-ment of the disease. Familial DCM Various modes of inheritance have been reported includin