title: Restrictive cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a descriptive clinical and hemodynamic syndrome emphasizing the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which myocardial hypertrophy and/or infiltrative processes cause cardiocirculatory morbidity. This diagnosis can be made with precision only after pericardial construction is excluded and myocardial biopsy has identified the restrictive process. Though a variety of rather rare infiltrative pathological entities may be responsible for the restrictive cardiomyopathic picture, most commonly no definitive pathologic diagnosis is established despite extensive hemodynamic and histologic investigation. Nonetheless, a therapeutic trial with a calcium entry blocking agent is warranted.
mesh_terms: D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000473:pathology; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology