Reindell Dilatation of the Heart

Reindell's dilation of the heart (also known as regulatory cardiac dilatation) is a condition in which the chambers of the heart (atria and ventricles) become dilated due to an impairment of the myocardium's ability to contract.

This type of dilatation was first described by the German physician Adolf Reindell in 1891. It occurs as a compensatory reaction of the heart muscle to increased load, for example, with arterial hypertension, valvular heart disease or coronary heart disease.

With Rheindel dilatation, the walls of the heart become thinner and stretched, resulting in an increase in the volume of the cavities. This allows you to maintain cardiac output at a sufficient level by increasing stroke volume. However, over time, the compensatory capabilities of the heart are depleted, which leads to a decrease in myocardial contractile function and the development of heart failure.

Diagnosis of Reindell dilatation is based on echocardiography data, which allows assessing the size of the heart cavities. Treatment is aimed at eliminating the causes of dilatation, as well as slowing the progression of heart failure through drug therapy. Severe forms may require surgical treatment.