Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Description
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is rare. It can develop at any age and is more frequent in children. The walls of the heart chambers become stiff. Because of this, the ventricles do not relax and do not fill with enough blood to pump to the rest of the body which can lead to symptoms of heart failure such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and ankle swelling, as well as heart rhythm problems. In many cases, the cause is unknown, although sometimes the condition can be inherited. It may affect up to 1 in 500 persons. However, restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common form of cardiomyopathy; it accounts for just around 5% of all cardiomyopathies.
Symptoms
The early stage of restrictive cardiomyopathy may have low or no symptoms. the following symptoms may appear while the disease progress:
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Chest pain (at rest or with exercise)
- Dizziness or fainting
- Swelling of feet and legs
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Weight gain
If you experience any of these symptoms, visit a General Practitioner (General Practice doctor), who might refer you to a Cardiologist, for proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications.
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View MoreCauses
If you have one of the following conditions, you may develop restrictive cardiomyopathy:
- Amyloidosis
- Connective tissue disease
- Iron overload
- Sarcoidosis
You may develop restrictive cardiomyopathy after some cancer treatments, like chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Diagnostics
A physical examination will be conducted by your cardiologist to identify restrictive cardiomyopathy. Your cardiologist will check your blood pressure and listen to your heartbeat. The following tests could be done:
- Blood tests
- Chest x-ray
- Electrocardiogram
- Echocardiogram
- Exercise stress test
- Heart CT and MRI
Treatment
Restrictive cardiomyopathy has no specific treatment. Your cardiologist will deal with the underlying cause of your illness. If you exhibit signs of heart failure, your doctor might prescribe:
- Corticosteroids (if you have sarcoidosis)
- Diuretics
- Medications to treat heartbeat irregularities (Ex: atenolol, bisoprolol)
- Medications to treat certain types of amyloidosis
- Heart transplant surgery in the severe cases
