Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Synonyms and keywords: Infiltrative cardiomyopathy; RCM
Overview
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common cardiomyopathy. It is called this because it restricts the heart from stretching and filling with blood properly. Rhythmicity and contractility of the heart may be normal, but the stiff walls of the heart chambers (atria and ventricles) keep them from adequately filling. So blood flow is reduced, and blood that would normally enter the heart is backed up in the circulatory system. In time, restrictive cardiomyopathy patients develop heart failure.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
- Alpha-L-iduronidase deficiency
- Amyloidosis
- Carcinoid syndrome
- Carcinoid tumors
- Endocardial fibroelastosis
- Endomyocardial fibrosis
- Gangliosidosis GM1
- Gaucher disease
- Hemochromatosis
- Hurler syndrome
- Löffler's syndrome
- Mucolipidosis II alpha/beta
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Postradiation fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Systemic sclerosis
Causes by Organ System
Cardiovascular | No underlying causes |
Chemical/Poisoning | No underlying causes |
Dental | No underlying causes |
Dermatologic | No underlying causes |
Drug Side Effect | No underlying causes |
Ear Nose Throat | No underlying causes |
Endocrine | No underlying causes |
Environmental | No underlying causes |
Gastroenterologic | No underlying causes |
Genetic | No underlying causes |
Hematologic | No underlying causes |
Iatrogenic | No underlying causes |
Infectious Disease | No underlying causes |
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic | No underlying causes |
Neurologic | No underlying causes |
Nutritional/Metabolic | No underlying causes |
Obstetric/Gynecologic | No underlying causes |
Oncologic | No underlying causes |
Ophthalmologic | No underlying causes |
Overdose/Toxicity | No underlying causes |
Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
Pulmonary | No underlying causes |
Renal/Electrolyte | No underlying causes |
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy | No underlying causes |
Sexual | No underlying causes |
Trauma | No underlying causes |
Urologic | No underlying causes |
Miscellaneous | No underlying causes |
Causes in Alphabetical Order
Diagnosis
Electrocardiogram
Shown below is an example of restrictive cardiomyopathy with low voltage and flipped anterior T waves.