A form of CARDIAC MUSCLE disease that is characterized by ventricular dilation, contractile dysfunction of the left or both HEART VENTRICLES, and congestive heart failure (HEART FAILURE, CONGESTIVE) symptoms. Risk factors include ETHANOL and TOBACCO abuse, PREGNANCY; HYPERTENSION; INFECTION; and mutations in the LMNA gene encoding LAMIN TYPE A, a NUCLEAR LAMINA protein.
