What is NOT a typical finding in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)?

In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), increased exercise tolerance is not a typical finding. DCM is characterized by the heart's inability to pump effectively due to dilation of the heart chambers, especially the left ventricle. This results in a reduced cardiac output and impaired exercise capacity. As a consequence, individuals often experience fatigue and weakness, as well as shortness of breath during physical activity, rather than an increase in exercise tolerance.

The other findings mentioned are indeed typical in DCM. Eccentric hypertrophy occurs as the heart struggles to compensate for decreased pumping ability; this is a physiological adaptation where the heart walls may thicken, but the overall chamber size increases. Low pulse pressure can also be observed due to diminished stroke volume as the heart's effectiveness decreases. Fatigue and weakness commonly arise from the heart's inability to meet the body's demands for oxygen, especially during exertion, which is a hallmark symptom of heart failure associated with DCM.