الفهرس 
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Abstract
Cardiomyopathies are group of heart diseases that influence cardiac muscles directly and are not related to hypertension, congenital, valvular and pericardial diseases. The most common type of cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Zinc is an essential micronutrient that impacts the cardiovascular system. There are multiple potential pathophysiologic causes for zinc deficiency in heart failure as result of impaired micronutrient consumption, hyper inflammatory state, diminished absorption and hyperzincuria from heart failure medications. Zinc deficiency may play a role as primary and possible reversible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. In the present study which is a prospective cohort study we aimed to detect the effect of oral zinc supplementation in pediatric patients with DCM who admitted to the Cardiology Unit at Assiut University Children Hospital. The study included 50 patients with DCM.
Patients were randomly “based on simple randomization technique by computer generated sequence” divided into two groups:
- group A (Zinc supplemented group): patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function due to DCM receiving oral zinc supplementation in addition to inotropic and diuretic therapy.
- group B (Non zinc supplemented group): patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function due to DCM, not receiving oral zinc supplementation, to serve as a control group.
Patients were followed up thoroughly clinically and by echocardiography evaluation at start of the study and after 6 months.
The main finding of the current study:
• The mean age of the studied cases was 7.58 ± 4.43 years and ranged from 1 – 14 years.
• Slight male sex predominance (male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1).
• According to NYHA classification; 8% had NYHA grade Ⅰ, 22% had NYHA grade Ⅱ, 40% had NYHA grade Ⅲ, and 30% had NYHA grade Ⅳ.
• At baseline: all echocardiographic finding regarding to LVEDD, LVFS, and LVEF were comparable between both studied groups with no significant difference between them.
• After a period of six months : Patients received zinc supplementation in addition to the traditional treatment of DCM, have significantly higher LVFS and LVEF compared to patients who received only the routine medical treatment of DCM. Additionally, among patients who received zinc supplementation; the echocardiographic parameters showing significant improvement in LVFS (%), and LVEF (%) from baseline to after six months of receiving zinc supplementation, especially those with NYHA grade.