ENDOMYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS - CLINICAL, ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC AND HEMODYNAMIC-FINDINGS

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a disease of unknown origin. It was f irst described by Davies in Uganda in 1948. The clinical, echocardiogr aphic, and hemodynamic findings in 18 patients are presented. Six pati ents had right-sided involvement, four had left-sided involvement and eight had biventricular involvement. The presence of a small ventricle with obliteration of the apex and a large atrium, diagnosed by two-di mensional echocardiography, is highly suggestive of endomyocardial fib rosis. Ventricular angiography was diagnostic in 17 out of 18 cases. E ndomyocardial biopsy yielded positive findings in three out of seven p atients and is not essential for diagnosis. Two patients suffered a ce rebral embolism. Six patients underwent surgery with good results in t hree patients.