A group of diseases in which the dominant feature is the involvement of the CARDIAC MUSCLE itself. cardiomyopathies are classified according to their predominant pathophysiological features (DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY; HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY; RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY) or their etiological/pathological factors (cardiomyopathy, alcoholic; endocardial fibroelastosis).