Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a type of cardiomyopathy caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart. Typically, patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy have a history of acute myocardial infarction, however, it may occur in patients with coronary artery disease, but without a past history of acute myocardial infarction. This cardiomyopathy is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death. The adjective ischemic means characteristic of, or accompanied by, ischemia — local anemia due to mechanical obstruction of the blood supply. Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of ischemic cardiomyopathy include sudden fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and palpitations. Cause
Ischemic cardiomyopathy is the cause of more than 60% of all cases of systolic congestive heart failure in most countries of the world. A chest radiograph that demonstrates coronary artery calcification is a probable indication of ischemic cardiomyopathy. The following are causes of ischemic cardiomyopathy:
Diabetes
Atherosclerosis
Vasospasm
Inflammation of arteries

Pathophysiology
Ischemic cardiomyopathy is caused by too little blood flow and hence oxygen reaching the muscular layer of the heart due to a narrowing of coronary arteries in turn causing cell death. This can cause different levels of tissue injury and affect large and intermediate arteries alike. Diagnosis
Ischemic cardiomyopathy can be diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol, imaging both global and regional function. Also the Look-Locker technique is used to identify diffuse fibrosis; it is therefore important to be able to determine the extent of the ischemic scar.
References
Further reading
Likoff, Jessup Mariell, Chandler Sheryl L., Kay Harold R. (1987). "Clinical determinants of mortality in chronic congestive heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated or to ischemic cardiomyopathy". The American Journal of Cardiology. 59 (6): 634–638. doi:10.1016/0002-9149(87)91183-0. PMID 3825904. {{cite journal}}:  CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Carmeliet Peter;  et al. (1999). "Impaired myocardial angiogenesis and ischemic cardiomyopathy in mice lacking the vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms VEGF164 and VEGF188". Nature Medicine. 5 (5): 495–502. doi:10.1038/8379. PMID 10229225. S2CID 7536458. Menasché Philippe;  et al. (2008). "The myoblast autologous grafting in ischemic cardiomyopathy (MAGIC) trial first randomized Placebo-controlled study of myoblast transplantation". Circulation. 117 (9): 1189–1200. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.107.734103. PMID 18285565. Beltrami Carlo Alberto;  et al. (1994). "Structural basis of end-stage failure in ischemic cardiomyopathy in humans". Circulation. 89 (1): 151–163. doi:10.1161/01.cir.89.1.151. PMID 8281642. == External links ==