Restrictive cardiomyopathy

• Least common of the causes of cardiomyopathy
• characterized by rigid noncompliant ventricular walls
• Features similar to constrictive pericarditis

Features suggesting restrictive cardiomyopathy rather than constrictive pericarditis

1. prominent apical pulse
2. absence of pericardial calcification on CXR
3. heart may be enlarged
4. ECG abnormalities e.g. bundle branch block, Q waves

Causes

• amyloidosis (e.g. secondary to myeloma) - most common cause in UK
• haemochromatosis
• Loffler's syndrome
• sarcoidosis
• scleroderma
• Radiation

Features

S/S - dyspnea, exercise intolerance, weakness

Elevated JVP, edema, hepatomegaly, ascites, S4 and S3 gallop, Kussmaul sign (raised JVP on inhalation)

Dx