Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a disease of heart muscle that prevents the muscle from contracting (squeezing) with normal force. The result is that the heart doesn’t pump blood well. Restrictive cardiomyopathy means that the heart has a restricted ability to contract because the inner lining of the heart becomes stiff. The heart does not expand properly when it fills. The heart muscle thickens to make more muscle so it can increase its strength of contraction, but due to the abnormal filling of the heart is unable to function normally.
This type of heart disease is much less common than heart disease from coronary artery disease or heart valve problems.
Most of the time the cause is unknown. Amyloidosis, a condition in which abnormal deposits of protein in some body tissues occur, may be a cause. Sarcoidosis, a condition involving abnormal inflammation of lymph nodes and other tissues, may be another cause. It may also be caused by inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. Drinking alcohol in excess can make it worse.
Most people have tiredness, less ability to exercise, and shortness of breath. Swelling in the legs or feet, chest pain, or palpitations (feeling that the heart is skipping or beating too fast) may also occur. Cardiomyopathy can cause heart failure.
The health care provider may suspect the disorder on the basis of the medical history and physical examination. The health care provider may also order electrocardiography (ECG) and chest x-rays. These tests usually show an enlarged heart. ECG may also show an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Echocardiography (ultrasound examination of the heart) may be done to check the heart’s pumping action. Blood tests may also be done to look for other causes.
In some cases, cardiac catheterization and biopsy of heart tissue may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
Therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms of heart failure and correcting abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Medications known as diuretics reduce fluid in the blood to decrease the work of the heart.
The health care provider may prescribe drugs that regulate the heartbeat or drugs that suppress immune function (corticosteroids) to fight conditions causing the cardiomyopathy.
If the heart’s pumping is very poor and symptoms of heart failure worsen, heart transplantation may be needed.
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Copyright © 2016 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc.
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