A 42-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department Due to Fatigue

A 42-year-old man comes to the emergency department due to fatigue and exertional dyspnea.  Over the last 2 weeks his symptoms have progressively worsened to the point that he can no longer walk across his living room without becoming short of breath.  He is admitted to the hospital but dies suddenly despite aggressive treatment.  An autopsy is performed, and a cross-section of his heart is shown in the image below. This patient's symptoms were most likely caused by which of the following mechanisms?

A) Decreased ventricular contraction force
B) Dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction
C) Impaired left ventricular filling
D) Increased pulmonary vascular resistance
E) Poor ventricular wall compliance

Correct Answer:

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