A Novel Case of Idiopathic Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (CM) usually develops and progresses slowly, over a course of years. The rapid development of idiopathic restrictive CM immediately following a liver transplant is unusual. We describe the case of a patient who developed idiopathic restrictive CM fairly rapidly following a liver transplant. It progressed within a few months to the point where the patient required scheduled paracenteses and dialysis. The morphological definition of restrictive CM consists of bi-atrial dilation with non-dilated and non-hypertrophic ventricles. A cardiac biopsy may be needed when the underlying cause is not evident. When a cardiac biopsy is not able to identify a specific cause, then the word "idiopathic" is used to describe the CM.