Restrictive cardiomyopathies

Abstract

Restrictive cardiomyopathy has always been a fairly common cause of cardiac death in the tropics through endomyocardial fibrosis. In temperate climates, amyloidosis is the most common form of the disease, whereas Löffler's endocarditis is quite rare. Amyloidosis is more frequently encountered as the population ages, but restrictive cardiomyopathy is still rare outside the tropics. Differentiation between cardiac restriction and constriction is still the major clinical consideration as treatment for constrictive pericarditis is easily administered.