Ischemic myopathy often results from which condition?

Ischemic myopathy primarily results from coronary artery disease (CAD) because this condition involves the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. When these arteries are compromised, the heart does not receive adequate blood flow and oxygen, leading to ischemia, or a lack of blood supply. This shortage of blood can cause damage to the heart muscle, resulting in ischemic myopathy, characterized by myocardial dysfunction. In essence, CAD is a direct cause of ischemic injury by impairing the heart's blood supply, ultimately affecting its ability to contract properly and leading to heart muscle weakening.

The other conditions listed can impact heart function but typically do not lead to ischemic myopathy in the same direct manner as coronary artery disease. For instance, rheumatic heart disease primarily affects heart valves, hypertensive heart disease mainly involves structural changes due to elevated blood pressure, and congenital heart defects refer to structural heart problems present from birth, which can cause a variety of functional issues but are not specifically associated with ischemia resulting from coronary artery blockage.