MCQ Pathology Answer 26

The Correct Answer Is C

The cardiomyopathies are a diverse group of heart diseases. They may be defined as primary diseases of heart muscle not associated with hypertension, valvular disease, congenital abnormalities or coronary artery disease.

The cardiomyopathies are usually classified according to 4 major pathophysiologic and pathoanatomic groups: dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, obliterative cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

In a strict sense, only the dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies are primary diseases of cardiac myocytes.

In restrictive cardiomyopathy, infiltration of the myocardial interstitium by substances such as amyloid cause the heart muscle to become rubbery and noncompliant, which also leads to diastolic dysfunction (i.e., the heart cannot relax and fill properly).

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy:

Amyloidosis --> à stiffening of ventricular cavity.
Leads to diastolic HF and replacement of muscle w/amyloid.
Also lymphoproliferative dz.
Some decrease in chamber size.
No way to remove deposits.
Waxy appearance.
Typical appearance on echo.

Causes of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: HEALS

• Hemochromatosis
  
• Endocardial fibroelastosis
  
• Amyloidosis
  
• Loeffler’s endomyocarditis
• Sarcoid

Category: Pathology MCQs