Heart Lab Diagnostics
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Heart Lab Diagnostics is a locally owned and operated mobile ultrasound provider. We service the Maryland/ D.C./ Northern Virginia area. High quality Cardiovascular Sonographers working alongside experiences board certified Cardiologists, radiologists and Vascular Surgeons provide state of the art imaging service to you and your patients in your office.
Classic Causes of Cardiomyopathy. Afterall 80% of diagnosis is based on a patient's history. The more you know, the more you can show.
🧠 Mnemonic: “ABCC VIP”
• Alcohol
• Beri-beri (B1 deficiency)
• Coxsackie B (viral myocarditis)
• Co***ne
• Viral myocarditis
• Iron overload (hemochromatosis)
• Pregnancy (peripartum)
(+ Doxorubicin/Adriamycin)
Complications
⚠️ Mural thrombus + arrhythmias → emboli / sudden death
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2) Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) = THICK + TIGHT
✅ Problem: diastolic dysfunction (↓ filling)
✅ Heart: asymmetric septal hypertrophy
✅ Genetic: AD mutation (sarcomere proteins)
Key pathology
🔬 Myofiber disarray
High-yield danger
⚠️ Sudden death in young athletes
⚠️ Can cause LV outflow obstruction (septum blocks exit)
🧠 Mnemonic:
“HCM = Huge Septum = Hard to Fill”
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3) Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM) = STIFF
✅ Problem: very poor filling (diastolic dysfunction)
✅ Heart size: ventricles NOT dilated (often normal)
✅ Cause: infiltration / fibrosis
Causes (must know)
🧠 Mnemonic: “ASSEL”
• Amyloidosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma / fibrosis
• Endomyocardial fibroelastosis
• Löffler endocarditis
🧠 Easy line:
“Restrictive = Stiff heart from Stuff inside.”
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4) Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) = FATTY RV
✅ Problem: arrhythmias (esp VT)
✅ Cause: AD mutation in desmosomes
✅ Pathology: fatty infiltration of myocardium
✅ Mostly affects Right ventricle
🧠 Mnemonic:
“ARVC = Arrhythmia + RV replaced by fat”
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🔥 One-line comparison (exam gold)
✅ DCM: BIG + Weak → ↓EF (systolic)
✅ HCM: THICK + Tight → sudden death (diastolic ± obstruction)
✅ RCM: STIFF → can’t fill (diastolic)
✅ ARVC: FATTY RV → ventricular arrhythmias
Let's survive the icey conditions today.
Heart attacks are common in icy/snowy weather often due to over exertion.
Set small goals to tackle at a time. Take your time shoveling and clearing ice. It's okay to stop to breath and even stop for a while. Take lots of breaks, drink plenty of water, and be safe.
12/20/2025
Happy Holidays From Us to All of You
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Contact the practice
Address
P. O. Box 773
Sparks, MD
21152
