Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Key points

• Amyloidosis (e.g. secondary to myeloma) is the most common cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy in the UK.
• Other causes: haemochromatosis · Loffler's syndrome · sarcoidosis · scleroderma.
• Features are similar to constrictive pericarditis.
• Features favouring restrictive cardiomyopathy over constrictive pericarditis: prominent apical pulse · absence of pericardial calcification on CXR · heart may be enlarged · ECG abnormalities (e.g. bundle branch block, Q waves).