We say that dilated cardiomyopathy is a type of cardiomyopathy characterized by enlargement of the left ventricle or both ventricles, accompanied by systolic dysfunction. Some cases of dilated cardiomyopathy are familial, with the main inheritance patterns being autosomal dominant, X-linked recessive, and more rarely, mitochondrial inheritance. The cause of most dilated cardiomyopathies is unclear, but potential causes include infections, non-infectious inflammation, endocrine metabolic disorders, genetics, psychological trauma, and poisoning, including alcohol poisoning. Alcoholism is a common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in China. Clinically, dilated cardiomyopathy presents with cardiac enlargement, heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolism, and sudden death.