Differential Diagnosis for Diastolic Dysfunction
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Hypertension: Prolonged hypertension can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, which is a common cause of diastolic dysfunction. The increased wall thickness and stiffness of the heart muscle make it harder for the ventricle to relax and fill during diastole.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes can cause diastolic dysfunction through various mechanisms, including increased stiffness of the heart muscle, endothelial dysfunction, and autonomic neuropathy.
- Coronary Artery Disease: Ischemia or infarction can lead to diastolic dysfunction by causing scarring and stiffening of the heart muscle.
- Obesity: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of diastolic dysfunction, possibly due to the development of insulin resistance, inflammation, and increased blood pressure.
- Aging: Aging is a natural process that can lead to diastolic dysfunction due to increased stiffness of the heart muscle and decreased relaxation properties.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Amyloidosis: A condition characterized by the deposition of abnormal proteins (amyloid) in the heart muscle, leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy and diastolic dysfunction. Missing this diagnosis can be fatal due to the progressive nature of the disease.
- Hemochromatosis: A genetic disorder that leads to iron overload, which can cause diastolic dysfunction by depositing iron in the heart muscle and leading to fibrosis.
- Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease that can affect the heart, leading to diastolic dysfunction and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.
Rare Diagnoses
- Fabry Disease: A genetic disorder that leads to the accumulation of a specific type of fat in the heart muscle, causing diastolic dysfunction and other systemic symptoms.
- Danon Disease: A rare genetic disorder that affects the heart and skeletal muscle, leading to diastolic dysfunction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Endomyocardial Fibrosis: A rare condition characterized by the deposition of fibrotic tissue in the endomyocardium, leading to diastolic dysfunction and restrictive cardiomyopathy.