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Cardiomyopathies (Ciba Foundation Symposium)
Review of Recent Books
CARDIOMYOPATHIES (Ciba Foundation Symposium). Professor J. McMichael, Chairman; edited by G . E. W . Wolstenholme, M.B., F.R.C.P., and Maeve O’Connor, B.A. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1964. 428 pp., 136 illus., $12.50. Reviewed by Joe D. Morris, M.D.
An emerging understanding of the cardiomyopathies is substantially aided by this Ciba Symposium volume. The twenty-nine participants, who are recognized authorities on the various entities under consideration, represent six countries. T h e verbatim presentation of the proceedings results in duplication and overlapping of material as many of the participants present similar experiences. This is not a serious fault, however, and perhaps it emphasizes whatever consensus there is on the subject. The discussions are spontaneous and provide confrontation of various hypotheses vying for acceptance as theory. A major part of the volume is devoted to discussion of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. An appeal to standardize the nomenclature of this entity is made; hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is the suggested term. T h e hemodynamic effects of circulatory drugs in patients with this entity is of particular interest. Other cardiomyopathies reviewed in the proceedings include endomyocardial fibrosis, fibroelastosis, Friedreich’s disease, and viral myocarditis. T h e volume is an assemblage of current thinking and theory on a still incompletely understood area of heart disease. This fact alone makes it an essential reference work for both the cardiologist and the heart surgeon. Ann Arbor
814
T H E ANNALS OF THORAClC SURGERY
CARDIOMYOPATHIES (Ciba Foundation Symposium). Professor J. McMichael, Chairman; edited by G . E. W . Wolstenholme, M.B., F.R.C.P., and Maeve O’Connor, B.A. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1964. 428 pp., 136 illus., $12.50. Reviewed by Joe D. Morris, M.D.
An emerging understanding of the cardiomyopathies is substantially aided by this Ciba Symposium volume. The twenty-nine participants, who are recognized authorities on the various entities under consideration, represent six countries. T h e verbatim presentation of the proceedings results in duplication and overlapping of material as many of the participants present similar experiences. This is not a serious fault, however, and perhaps it emphasizes whatever consensus there is on the subject. The discussions are spontaneous and provide confrontation of various hypotheses vying for acceptance as theory. A major part of the volume is devoted to discussion of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. An appeal to standardize the nomenclature of this entity is made; hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is the suggested term. T h e hemodynamic effects of circulatory drugs in patients with this entity is of particular interest. Other cardiomyopathies reviewed in the proceedings include endomyocardial fibrosis, fibroelastosis, Friedreich’s disease, and viral myocarditis. T h e volume is an assemblage of current thinking and theory on a still incompletely understood area of heart disease. This fact alone makes it an essential reference work for both the cardiologist and the heart surgeon. Ann Arbor
814
T H E ANNALS OF THORAClC SURGERY