A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Prednisone for Dilated Cardiomyopathy

102 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients were categorized into 'reactive' (n=60, with fibroblastic/lymphocytic infiltration, immunoglobulin deposition, positive gallium scan, or elevated ESR) and 'nonreactive' (n=42) subgroups.

Prednisone 60 mg per day for 3 months (reactive patients were then switched to 60 mg every other day).

Control group

Improvement, defined prospectively as an increase in the ejection fraction of greater than or equal to 5 percentage points at three monthssurrogate