[Myocardosis - myocardia - cardiomyopathy (author's transl)].

"Cardiomyopathy", a term formerly used for heart muscle disease of unknown aetiology, is at present applied to all myocardial diseases other than coronary-heart disease. This definition includes many different forms of metabolic disorders of heart muscle. Four manifestations of metabolic myocardial disease, differing in their aetiology and pathogenesis are distinguished: (1) "transport" myocardosis, (2) "arthrocytotic" myocardosis, (3) myocardia, and (4) idiopathic cardiomyopathy. They are differentiated by combined morphological and quantitative mineral examination. "Transport" myocardosis is the most common form and its particular aetiology can be further specified. Cause of death in patients with metabolic disorders often remains undiscovered even at autopsy. Combination of histological and quantitative mineral analysis of myocardium can further define the particular form.