GEOCHEMICAL BASIS OF TROPICAL ENDOMYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) has a marked preference for the tropics and the poor socio-economic class. Tropical soil is rich in minerals s uch as monazite and the endomyocardial samples of patients with EMF sh ow higher levels of cerium - a major constituent of monazite - in comb ination with lower concentrations of magnesium. The geochemical hypoth esis postulates that poor children are prose to develop magnesium defi ciency because of insufficient intake and the higher growth needs for the element. The deficiency of magnesium promotes the absorption of ce rium and enhances its toxicity which could form the basis for the init ial injury in EMF.