What type of filling pattern is associated with constrictive pericarditis?

The restrictive filling pattern is associated with constrictive pericarditis due to the rigid pericardial sac that surrounds the heart. In this condition, the pericardium becomes thickened and fibrotic, limiting the heart's ability to expand fully during diastole. This leads to impaired filling of the ventricles, particularly the right ventricle, which results in elevated pressures in the heart and surrounding veins. On Doppler echocardiography, the restrictive filling pattern is characterized by rapid early diastolic filling followed by a sharp decrease in flow, reflecting the inability of the heart to accommodate normal blood volume due to the stiff pericardium. Understanding this pattern is crucial for diagnosing and managing patients with constrictive pericarditis, as it helps differentiate this condition from other types of heart diseases, like restrictive cardiomyopathy or heart failure, which may present different filling patterns.