Historically, in the first classification the term "Cardiomyopathy" [CMP] was used to describe a heart muscle disease of unknown cause, whereas heart muscle disorders of known etiology [such as coronary artery disease, valvular disease or hypertension] or those associated with systemic diseases were classified as specific CMP. With scientific progress [in particular in genetics and in biotechnology] it became more and more difficult to distinguish between CMP and specific heart muscle disease [primary and secondary CMP] as it was possible to understand the etiologic basis and pathophysiologic pathways of many so-called "idiopathic" heart muscle disorders. Therefore, in the last years important advances have been made to re-define and re-classify CMP.
