Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Overview
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common form of cardiomyopathy. It occurs in the advanced stages of myocardial infiltrative disease — e.g. due to haemochromatosis, amyloidosis or sarcoidosis.
- Diffuse myocardial infiltration leads to low voltage QRS complexes.
- Atrial fibrillation may occur due to atrial enlargement; ventricular arrhythmias are also common.
- Infiltration of the cardiac conducting system (e.g. due to septal granuloma formation in sarcoidosis) may lead to conduction disturbance — e.g. bundle branch blocks and AV block.
- Healing granulomas in sarcoidosis may produce “pseudo-infarction” Q waves.
ECG Features of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Low voltage QRS complexes
- Non-specific ST segment / T wave changes
- Bundle branch blocks
- Atrioventricular block (3rd degree AV block may occur in sarcoidosis)
- Pathological Q waves
- Atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias
Example ECGs
Related Topics
References
- Edhouse J, Thakur RK, Khalil JM. ABC of clinical electrocardiography. Conditions affecting the left side of the heart. BMJ. 2002 May 25;324(7348):1264-7. [PMC1123219].
LITFL Further Reading
- ECG Library Basics – Waves, Intervals, Segments and Clinical Interpretation
- ECG A to Z by diagnosis – ECG interpretation in clinical context
- ECG Exigency and Cardiovascular Curveball – ECG Clinical Cases
- 100 ECG Quiz – Self-assessment tool for examination practice
- ECG Reference SITES and BOOKS – the best of the rest
Advanced Reading
- Brady WJ, Truwit JD. Critical Decisions in Emergency and Acute Care Electrocardiography
- Surawicz B, Knilans T. Chou’s Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice: Adult and Pediatric
- Wagner GS. Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography 12e
- Chan TC. ECG in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care
- Rawshani A. Clinical ECG Interpretation
- Mattu A. ECG’s for the Emergency Physician
- Hampton JR. The ECG In Practice, 6e
ECG LIBRARY
Electrocardiogram
Emergency Physician in Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine in Sydney, Australia. He has a passion for ECG interpretation and medical education | ECG Library |