Our multidisciplinary team combines education and medicine, helping you manage your cardiomyopathy diagnosis.
Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Service
The Johns Hopkins Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Service is dedicated to helping patients living with cardiomyopathy manage their condition through education and support services.
Why Choose Johns Hopkins?
Learn more about the benefits of our clinic.
Multidisciplinary Team
Comprehensive Care
We provide a full spectrum of care at every stage of heart failure, drastically improving your quality of life.
Advanced Research
Our cutting-edge research has led to innovative treatments for managing cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
We provide comprehensive services for patients suffering from cardiomyopathy and heart failure or undergoing a heart transplant. After an initial evaluation by your physician, you may be asked to undergo one or more of the following tests:
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A small sample of the heart muscle or tissue may be taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. This helps determine the extent of disease.
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An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to image the heart’s structure and movement. This allows your doctor to determine what your ejection fraction is and to look at the function of your heart valves and heart muscle.
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An electrocardiogram, also called an ECG or EKG, is a test that records your heart's electrical activity during rest to determine abnormal heart rhythms.
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Our clinic performs several tests through cardiac catheterization, where a catheter is placed into a blood vessel where it’s threaded into the aorta and into the heart. There are two types of cardiac catheterization we perform:
- Left heart catheterization — Determines if you have any blockages in your heart and helps to evaluate the pressures in the heart. This test involves inserting a thin plastic tube through a blood vessel until it reaches the heart; injecting a dye into the blood vessels; and taking X-rays to assess the heart’s structure and function.
- Right heart catheterization — This procedure evaluates the pressures in your heart and lungs and measures the amount of blood flowing through your body. Your doctor may change therapies or take more fluid off of you based on the results of this test.
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A metabolic stress test is an exercise test that measures the amount of oxygen (peak VO2) you consume during exercise. It allows your doctor to determine how limited your heart makes you and if you would benefit from a heart transplant.
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Pressure-volume analysis measures the amount of blood flow from heart during each beat. Johns Hopkins clinicians developed this test, and the results of it can help your doctor identify the type of cardiomyopathy you may have.
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An x-ray produces images of bones, organs and other tissues from external radiation. We perform an x-ray on the chest area to determine whether the heart is enlarged.
Heart Failure Programs
We offer several cutting-edge clinics and programs to treat each stage of heart failure. Starting from the initial diagnosis to later stages like our mechanical circulatory support program and heart transplantation.
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Cardiac Sarcoidosis Program
Our multidisciplinary team specializes in early, accurate diagnosis and providing treatment for cardiac sarcoidosis that is tailored to each patient's lifestyle.
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Cardio-Oncology Program
The Johns Hopkins Cardio-Oncology Program specializes in preventing and treating heart disease in patients undergoing cancer treatment and for cancer survivors.
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Heart Failure Bridge Clinic
Following a cardiac event, the Heart Failure Bridge Clinic helps manage their heart failure diagnosis, lowering the possibility of hospital readmission and further health complications.
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Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
This clinic provides specialized care for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
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Mechanical Circulatory Support Program & Ventricular Assist Devices
The Johns Hopkins Hospital Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Program offers a variety of ventricular assist devices for end stage heart failure patients, who do not qualify for a heart transplant.
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Heart Transplant Program
The Heart Transplant Program provides comprehensive treatment for heart transplant recipients and for patients who don’t qualify for a transplant.
