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Loeffler endocarditis in young woman - a case report
Natalia Y Osovska1, Natalia V Kuzminova1, Irina I Knyazkova2
1Department of Internal Therapy No1 of Vinnitsa National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnitsa, Ukraine.
Insights
Loeffler endocarditis, a rare heart condition linked to hypereosinophilic syndrome, involves diastolic dysfunction and thrombosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for better outcomes in this restrictive cardiomyopathy variant.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Pathology
Background:
- Loeffler endocarditis is a rare acquired heart disease characterized by ventricular diastolic dysfunction and mural thrombosis.
- It is classified as a restrictive cardiomyopathy and is considered a manifestation of hypereosinophilic syndrome with cardiac involvement.
Observation:
- Diagnosis during life is rare, often occurring at advanced stages of necrotizing endomyocarditis when treatment is less effective.
- Suspected in cases of hypereosinophilia with unexplained ventricular hypertrophy.
Findings:
- The article presents a case of life-time diagnosis in a young woman.
- Includes retrospective analysis of early disease stages and advanced imaging findings.
- Details a successful treatment approach for Loeffler endocarditis.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of early diagnosis for effective treatment of Loeffler endocarditis.
- Addresses the need for further understanding of hypereosinophilic syndrome pathogenesis and long-term treatment strategies.
- Emphasizes the potential for successful management even in advanced disease stages with timely intervention.
Abstract:
Loeffler endocarditis is a rare acquired endocardial and myocardial disease characterized by a sharp decrease in the compliance of either or both ventricles with an acute diastolic dysfunction and massive mural thrombosis. This disease is presented in the classification of cardiomyopathies and is a variant of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Today Loeffler endocarditis is considered as a manifestation of hypereosinophilic syndrome with predominant heart involvement. The life-time diagnosis of myocardial injury due to eosinophilic infiltration is rare, or it is diagnosed at the stage of necrotizing endomyocarditis, when the treatment is no longer effective. A number of issues regarding the individual aspects of the pathogenesis of hypereosinophilic syndrome and Loeffler endocarditis are still not fully understood, as well as the long-term prospects for the use of drugs for the treatment of hypereosinophilic syndrome, especially in young and middle-aged persons. Loeffler endocarditis can be suspected in the presence of hypereosinophilia on the background of causeless (unexplainable) hypertrophy of the left ventricle or both ventricles. The article includes a case of the life-time diagnosis of this disease in a young woman with the retrospective analysis of the early stages of the disease, echocardiographic and radiologic imaging at the advanced stage of the disease and quite successful treatment option for this disease.
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