[Cardiac trichinosis--echocardiographic study]

Trichinosis is an intestinal and tissue infection of man caused by Trichinella spiralis. The most frequent and serious complication is myocarditis. M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were carried out on 16 patients with clinical manifestation of trichinosis. The parameters of the left ventricular function, measured by echocardiography were examined, and the results were compared with the same parameters in 50 normal individuals. In 11 patients a variety of morphologic findings, like pericardial effusion, adhesions, focal endomyocardial fibrosis, dilated left ventricular cavity, were found. In one patient intra cavitary thrombus was bound. Pathologic parameters of the left ventricular function were registered in 15 patients.