AUTHOR=Silvetti Elisa , Lanza Oreste , Romeo Fabiana , Martino Annamaria , Fedele Elisa , Lanzillo Chiara , Crescenzi Cinzia , Fanisio Francesca , Calò Leonardo 

TITLE=The pivotal role of ECG in cardiomyopathies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1178163

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2023.1178163

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of pathologies characterized by structural and functional alterations of the heart. Recent technological advances in cardiovascular imaging offer an opportunity for deep phenotypic and etiological definition. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is the first-line diagnostic tool in the evaluation of both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. A learned and careful interpretation of the ECG features can raise suspicion of the presence of a cardiomyopathy, identify diagnostic "red flags" useful for orienting the diagnosis toward specific forms, and provide useful tools for risk stratification. The purpose of this review is to emphasize the important role of the electrocardiogram in the diagnostic work-up, describing the main ECG findings of different cardiomyopathies.