What will an echocardiogram typically show in a patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy?

In restrictive cardiomyopathy, the echocardiogram typically shows nondilated ventricles with normal wall thickness. This condition is characterized by the rigid and inflexible ventricular walls, which impede the heart's ability to fill properly during diastole while maintaining relatively normal ventricular size.

Unlike other forms of cardiomyopathy, the ventricles in restrictive cardiomyopathy do not undergo significant dilation or hypertrophy. Instead, they remain normal in size, reflecting the primary problem: the restrictive nature of the ventricular walls. This leads to increased pressures in the atria, which can result in atrial enlargement, but the ventricular dimension and wall thickness remain unaffected.

In contrast, conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy would display marked dilation of the ventricles, while hypertrophic cardiomyopathy would present with hypertrophied ventricular walls. These distinctions highlight the unique nature of restrictive cardiomyopathy as seen on echocardiography.