CASP8 and dilated cardiomyopathy: The estimated rate of apoptosis in cardiomiocytes in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy is between 0.08% and 0.25% and increasing apoptosis by only 0.023% in cardiomyocites by over-expression of caspase 8 in mice results in dilated cardiomyopathy after 2-6 months, that is reduced by treatment with caspase inhibitors [102].