In restrictive cardiomyopathy there is:

In restrictive cardiomyopathy there is:

• A. Systolic dysfunction
• B. Heart block
• C. Diastolic dysfunction
• D. Myocardial infarction

Answer: (C)

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is defined by stiff, noncompliant ventricles that don’t fill well during diastole. The main problem is diastolic dysfunction: the ventricles have preserved ability to contract, so systolic function (and ejection fraction) can be normal, but filling is impaired and filling pressures rise, leading to signs of heart failure with preserved EF. This is why diastolic dysfunction is the correct description. Systolic dysfunction is not the hallmark here; it’s more typical of dilated cardiomyopathy where the heart’s pumping ability is reduced. Heart block is a conduction issue, not the primary pathophysiology of restrictive disease. Myocardial infarction is an acute ischemic injury that damages myocardium and often impairs systolic function, not the characteristic filling problem seen in restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is defined by stiff, noncompliant ventricles that don’t fill well during diastole. The main problem is diastolic dysfunction: the ventricles have preserved ability to contract, so systolic function (and ejection fraction) can be normal, but filling is impaired and filling pressures rise, leading to signs of heart failure with preserved EF. This is why diastolic dysfunction is the correct description.

Systolic dysfunction is not the hallmark here; it’s more typical of dilated cardiomyopathy where the heart’s pumping ability is reduced. Heart block is a conduction issue, not the primary pathophysiology of restrictive disease. Myocardial infarction is an acute ischemic injury that damages myocardium and often impairs systolic function, not the characteristic filling problem seen in restrictive cardiomyopathy.