Endomyocardial fibrosis: report of eight cases

Endomyocardial fibrosis is a disease of unknown origin which has not previously been described in detail from the Middle East. The clinical, echocardiographic, hemodynamic and angiocardiographic findings in eight patients (five men and three women, mean age 38 years) are presented. Two patients had right-sided involvement, two had left-sided involvement and four had biventricular involvement. The presence of a small ventricle with obliteration of the apex and a large atrium is a two-dimensional echocardiographic finding highly suggestive of endomyocardial fibrosis. Hemodynamic characteristics of dip and plateau on ventricular pressure curves were present in six patients. Ventricular angiography was diagnostic in all cases. Endomyocardial biopsy yielded positive findings in three of six patients and is not essential for diagnosis.