[Restrictive cardiomyopathy of the right ventricle: differential diagnosis. Series of three cases].

The cardiomyopathies are defined as a primary disease of the myocardium and occur in children as well as in adults. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common type of cardiomyopathy and is characterized by the restriction of ventricular filling. This condition can affect one or both ventricles. The appropriate diagnostic tool includes a detailed clinical record supported by imaging and hemodynamic studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate adult patients with suspicion of restrictive miocardiopathy of the right ventricle, from the out-patients clinic using echocardiogram, magnetic resonance imaging, and hemodynamic studies and to establish a differential diagnosis with other cardiovascular diseases. Between May 2003 to January 2006 three patients with different initial diagnoses, such as Ebstein's anomaly, interatrial septal defect, and tumor of the right ventricle were studied. However, once the protocol of the study was completed, the final diagnosis was of right ventricular restrictive cardiomyopathy by endomyocardial fibrosis.