Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare type of cardiomyopathy that is characterized by stiffening of the heart muscle, which impairs its ability to fill with blood. In RCM, the muscle cells in the heart become replaced with abnormal tissue, such as scar tissue. This causes the muscle walls in the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) to become stiff, thereby restricting the heart's movement.
While the heart's pumping action is not typically affected, its ability to relax and fill with blood is compromised. The impaired filling function means the ventricles receive less blood than normal, reducing blood flow throughout the body and the heart. Consequently, blood backs up as it cannot enter the heart normally, leading to increased pressure and enlargement of the upper chambers of the heart (the atria).