This funding made possible the identification of the first gene locus responsible for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Dr. Christine Seidman, Harvard Medical School Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is a relatively common, potentially fatal heart condition. The two most common cardiomyopathies are hypertrophic and dilated. Dilated Cardiomyopathy DCM has become the fastest growing medical diagnosis in North America. It is the most common of the cardiomyopathies and is responsible for 10,000 deaths annually.
Most deaths occur as a result of arrhythmias or heart failure.
The cause of DCM in most patients in unknown, and the faulty genes underlying familial DCM have not yet been identified. The world of professional and college basketball appears to have been disproportionately affected by cardiomyopathy. Monty Williams' and Nick Knapp's careers have both been affected by this disease. Football star Ricky Bell of USC died of cardiomyopathy. Baseball player Stephen Larkin, brother of shortstop Barry, was also diagnosed with the disease.