Explore key milestones in the fight against DCM, from early beta blocker discoveries to the recognition of its genetic origins.
The timeline below
highlights pivotal moments like the first heart transplant, the advent of life-saving medications, and the growing understanding of DCM’s hereditary nature.
- 1962 — First successful beta blocker synthesized
- 1964 — Greg Ruf’s birth year! (founder of the DCM Foundation)
- 1967 — First heart transplant performed
- 1975 — Atenolol (beta blocker) launched
- Contraindicated in DCM/Heart Failure!!
- 1975 — Grand total number of heart transplants done in the United States = 22!
- 1980 — First ICD implanted in a human
- 1984 — Cyclosporin used in heart transplant immunosuppression – improves survival
- 1987— ACE-inhibitors are the first class of medications shown to improve survival in people with heart failure
- 1998 — Carvedilol (beta blocker) approved for use in heart failure – improves survival
- The mid 1990s — DCM was established to be a genetic disease in specific families in pedigree studies
- 2001 — CRT (biventricular pacemaker) shown to benefit people with DCM and heart failure
- 2015 — Entresto (a member of the ACE-inhibitor/ARB class of medications) approved to treat heart failure
- 2022 — Grand total number of heart transplants ever done in the United States = approximately 43,000!
- This includes both adult and pediatric heart transplants.
- It’s worth noting that this number continues to grow each year, with record numbers of heart transplants being performed in recent years due to advances in medicine and increased organ donation.
From the first steps in beta blocker research to the understanding of DCM’s genetic roots, these moments highlight the progress made in fighting this challenging condition. With ongoing research and new discoveries, the future looks hopeful for better treatments and, hopefully, one day a cure for DCM.