[Doppler echocardiography in endomyocardial fibrosis]
1Hospital de Cardiología, Servicio de Gabinetes, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI.I.M.S.S. México D.F.
Insights
Doppler echocardiography reveals key features of endomyocardial fibrosis, particularly right ventricular involvement. This imaging technique aids in diagnosing this cardiac condition by identifying characteristic findings like enlarged atria and valve regurgitation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare infiltrative disease affecting the heart's inner lining.
- Accurate diagnosis relies on identifying characteristic echocardiographic features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the echocardiographic features of endomyocardial fibrosis using Doppler echocardiography.
- To identify the specific cardiac sites affected by EMF.
Main Methods:
- Doppler echocardiography was performed on twelve patients with confirmed endomyocardial fibrosis.
- Patients' ages ranged from 16 to 59 years, with a predominance of women.
Main Results:
- Common findings included right atrium enlargement (91%), tricuspid regurgitation (100%), and right ventricle outflow dilatation (83%).
- Ventricular involvement was most frequent, with 66% of patients showing biventricular disease; isolated right ventricular involvement occurred in 25% of cases.
- Characteristic signs included apex obliteration (50%) and a restrictive flow pattern (50%).
Conclusions:
- Doppler echocardiography is a valuable tool for diagnosing endomyocardial fibrosis.
- Key diagnostic indicators include normal or small ventricles, apex obliteration, enlarged atria, valve regurgitation, and a restrictive flow pattern.
- Right ventricular involvement is the most common presentation in this patient cohort.
Abstract:
Twelve patients with endomyocardial fibrosis with angiographic and/or histologic corroboration were studied with Doppler echocardiography with the purpose of describing the echocardiographic features and identify the affected sites. The average age was 41 years (range 16 to 59 years), 2 men and 10 women. Three patients (25%) had isolated right ventricular involvement, one patient (8%) left ventricular, 8 patients (66%) both ventricular. Our Doppler echocardiographic findings were: right atrium enlargement (91%), right ventricle outflow dilatation (83%), paradoxical septal motion (83%), left atrial enlargement (33%), mitral and tricuspid valve prolapse (50%), pericardial effusion (41%), mitral regurgitation (75%), tricuspid regurgitation (100%), apex obliteration (50%) and a restrictive type flow pattern (50%). Doppler echocardiography is a useful method for the diagnosis of endomyocardial fibrosis, the finding of normal or small ventricles associated with apex obliteration and enlarged atria, mitral or tricuspid regurgitation and a restrictive type flow pattern are characteristics of this disease. In our population, the isolated or predominantely right ventricular involvement is the most common finding as it represented 83% of the cases.
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