Which statement about restrictive cardiomyopathy is true?

Which statement about restrictive cardiomyopathy is true?

• A. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the only form
• B. Restrictive cardiomyopathy has diastolic dysfunction
• C. It causes primary systolic failure
• D. It does not affect diastolic filling

Answer: (B)

Restrictive cardiomyopathy features a stiff, noncompliant ventricle that impairs filling during diastole. Because the ventricle can’t relax properly, diastolic filling is limited and filling pressures rise, leading to heart failure symptoms with often preserved systolic function early on. This diastolic dysfunction is the defining impairment, so the statement describing diastolic dysfunction is the true one. The idea that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the only form is inaccurate since restrictive disease is a separate cardiomyopathy; the notion of primary systolic failure is not characteristic of restrictive disease, which typically preserves systolic function; and the claim that diastolic filling is not affected contradicts the fundamental problem in this condition.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy features a stiff, noncompliant ventricle that impairs filling during diastole. Because the ventricle can’t relax properly, diastolic filling is limited and filling pressures rise, leading to heart failure symptoms with often preserved systolic function early on. This diastolic dysfunction is the defining impairment, so the statement describing diastolic dysfunction is the true one. The idea that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the only form is inaccurate since restrictive disease is a separate cardiomyopathy; the notion of primary systolic failure is not characteristic of restrictive disease, which typically preserves systolic function; and the claim that diastolic filling is not affected contradicts the fundamental problem in this condition.