Cardiomyopathies are currently defined as myocardial disorders in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal, in the absence of coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, valvular disease, or congenital heart disease sufficient to cause the observed myocardial abnormality. Primarily, four distinct phenotypes are described: hypertrophic, dilated, restrictive, and arrhythmogenic. There are two additional unclassified cardiomyopathies (left ventricular noncompaction and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy). Each of these distinct phenotypes is comprised of genetic, familial, and nonfamilial forms.

During recent years there has been great progress made towards understanding the pathogenesis of myocardial diseases as well as in their diagnostics and treatment. Commercially available genetic testing, namely, next-generation sequencing techniques, has brought great diagnostic advancement in the assessment of inherited cardiomyopathies. A ‘big boom’ has been seen in multimodality imaging assessment of myocardial disorders. Furthermore, marked progress has been made within the arena of pharmacology and therapeutics (including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies) that not only lowers morbidity but also can significantly improve mortality and the survival of affected individuals.

The aim of this special issue is to present a wide spectrum of original and review articles that focus on interesting and advancing areas within the topic of myocardial diseases.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: pathogenesis, nonsarcomeric phenocopies, diagnostic modalities, sudden death risk stratification, and pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutic options
• Dilated cardiomyopathy: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic modalities, and therapeutic options (including CRT and ICD)
• Myocarditis, inflammatory cardiomyopathy: diagnostic possibilities and therapeutic options
• Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic modalities, and therapeutic options, pharmacological and nonpharmacological
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy: amyloid related disease and nonamyloid restrictive cardiomyopathies
• Nonclassified cardiomyopathies: left ventricular noncompaction and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
• Myocardial involvement in neuromuscular disorders
• Cardiotoxicity of cancer therapy