Identification of mitochondrial DNA lesions in hereditary cardiomyoapthies.

Hypertrophic and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies are severe heart diseases. So far, both familial and sporadic cases have been reported. HCM is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy accompanied by disorganization of cardiac muscle cells while in DCM dilatation and dysfunction of one or both ventricles can occur. In the case of HCM, mutations in at least four different chromosomal loci have been reported suggesting substantial genetic heterogeneity (1). The molecular basis of DCM are not completely established. Recently, a variation in angiotensin-converting enzyme gene has completely established.