Hemochromatosis most commonly causes a restrictive cardiomyopathy; however, it can cause left ventricular systolic dysfunction and a dilated cardiomyopathy as well.

A restrictive cardiomyopathy results in severe diastolic congestive heart failure with intact systolic function. This is due to significantly impaired left ventricular relaxation, which results in increased cardiac pressures and clinical manifestations of congestive heart failure. See the review of restrictive cardiomyopathy and diastolic dysfunction for more details.