Which type of cardiomyopathy is associated with an enlarged and stiff left ventricle that decreases blood ejection from the heart?

The type of cardiomyopathy characterized by an enlarged and stiff left ventricle that decreases blood ejection from the heart is dilated cardiomyopathy. This condition causes the heart chambers, particularly the left ventricle, to stretch and enlarge, which reduces the heart muscle's ability to contract effectively. As a result, the ejection fraction—the amount of blood pumped out of the ventricle with each heartbeat—is significantly decreased.

In dilated cardiomyopathy, the progressive enlargement of the heart leads to weakened muscles, which can ultimately impact the heart's ability to circulate blood adequately throughout the body. This condition can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic predispositions, infections, toxins, or other medical conditions.

Other types of cardiomyopathy, such as restrictive, hypertrophic, and ischemic, present differently. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is characterized by the stiffness of the heart muscle without significant enlargement, affecting the heart's filling capacity rather than its ejection ability. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy involves the thickening of the heart muscle, which can also affect blood flow but does not primarily result in chamber enlargement as seen in dilated cardiomyopathy. Ischemic cardiomyopathy, often resulting from coronary artery disease,