What characterizes systolic dysfunction heart failure?

Systolic dysfunction in heart failure is primarily characterized by the heart's inability to contract effectively, which leads to a reduced ejection fraction. This condition typically results in an abnormal emptying of the heart chambers, particularly the ventricles, during systole.

In systolic dysfunction, the left ventricle often becomes dilated, meaning it expands and becomes larger relative to its normal size. This dilatation often leads to eccentric hypertrophy, a condition where the muscle fibers stretch and grow in a way that increases the internal volume of the ventricle while the wall thickness may change to compensate. Consequently, this dilated and weakened ventricle cannot pump blood efficiently, which is a hallmark of systolic dysfunction.

While increased filling pressure can occur as a result of heart failure, it is more indicative of diastolic dysfunction. A normal ejection fraction would not be present in systolic dysfunction as it is defined by a reduced ejection fraction. Additionally, reduced stroke volume paired with a normal ventricle size would be inconsistent with the characteristics of systolic dysfunction, where the ventricle is typically enlarged due to the failure in contractility.