Study Looking at the Recovery of New Onset Cardiomyopathy

This is a multi-center, prospective evaluation of left ventricular recovery on conventional therapy in patients with the recent onset of dilated cardiomyopathy. In some subjects with this disorder, the heart will recover significantly over the first year, while others will be left with a chronically weak heart. The proteins that help the heart recover are encoded by genes, which can differ markedly between individuals. The goal of the current study is to determine whether variation in these genes involved affect the probability that the heart will recover. We will also look at which genes are involved in inflammation and which ones are "turned on" (producing proteins) in circulating white blood cells.{These statements will only be added if the site has chosen to participate in RNA analysis}. In addition, this study will look at how levels of proteins in the blood, proteins called "cytokines' which control inflammation and proteins called "neurohormones" which are released when the heart weakens, affect the likelihood of recovery. Enrollment will take place at 15 centers. The goal is to enroll approximately 500 adult subjects (age 18 years or older, both men and women) over the course of approximately 48 months.