Pathological classification of restrictive cardiomyopathy; Obliterative and non obliterative

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) can be pathologically classified into two main categories:

Obliterative Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Characterized by:

1. Endomyocardial fibrosis: Scarring and fibrosis of the innermost layer of the heart muscle
2. Obliteration of the ventricular cavity: Scar tissue fills the ventricle, reducing its size and function
3. Often associated with:
- Hypereosinophilia (high levels of eosinophils in the blood)
- Tropical disease (e.g., endomyocardial fibrosis)
- Cancer (e.g., carcinoid heart disease)

Non-Obliterative Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Characterized by:

1. Myocardial fibrosis: Scarring and stiffening of the heart muscle, without ventricular obliteration
2. Preserved ventricular cavity size
3. Often associated with:
- Amyloidosis (abnormal protein deposition)
- Sarcoidosis (inflammatory disease)
- Radiation therapy
- Genetic mutations (e.g., desmin, troponin)

Note that some cases may exhibit features of both categories, and the classification may not always be clear-cut. Accurate diagnosis requires a combination of clinical, imaging, and histopathological evaluation.

#Cardiomyopathy