Alternate Names : Cardiomyopathy - Restrictive, Infiltrative Cardiomyopathy

Definition

"Restrictive cardiomyopathy" referes to a group of disorders in which the heart chambers are unable to fill properly with blood because of stiffness of the heart. In restrictive cardiomyopathy, the heart is normal in size or only slightly enlarged, but it cannot relax normally during diastole (that is, the time between heartbeats in which the blood returns from the body to the heart).

Later in the disease, the heart may not pump blood efficiently. The abnormal heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems. Restrictive cardiomyopathy may affect either or both ventricles and may or may not be associated with a disease of the heart muscle.