Cardiopathy

CARDIOPATHY, cardiopathia (from Greek cardia-heart and pathos-suffering, lesion), a term used mainly by Aschoff to refer to such changes in the heart which represent a prolonged or persistent pathological condition that is a consequence of preceding degenerative or inflammatory processes. Thus, if as a result of sclerosis of the coronary arteries there occurs disappearance of muscle fibers and proliferation of connective tissue, then such cardiosclerosis is designated by Aschoff as cardiopathia arteriosclerotica. Persistent fibrous changes of the heart valves, i.e., valvular defects resulting from endocarditis, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, Aschoff refers to as cardiopathia chronica. Also belonging here are fibrous scars of the endocardium, which are a consequence of mural endocarditis or thrombosis, as well as various persistent changes (scars, petrifications, etc.) in the area of the atrioventricular system and its nodes, causing various disturbances of heart rhythm. In general, the term K. can have only limited application in the above-mentioned sense; to use it in relation to all chronic (organic and functional) changes of the heart, as some clinicians do, is completely incorrect.