SHORT REPORT - ENDOMYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS AND CARDIOMYOPATHY IN AN AREA ENDEMIC FOR SCHISTOSOMIASIS

An association of schistosomiasis and endomyocardial fibrosis or cardi omyopathy has been suggested. Clinical, stool, abdominal ultrasound, e lectrocardiogram, and Doppler echocardiogram examinations were perform ed on 226 patients from an area endemic for schistosomiasis. The diagn osis of schistosomiasis was made in 152 patients (69%) but clinical, e lectrocardiographic, or Doppler echcocardiographic evidence of a schis tosome cardiomyopathy or endomyocardial fibrosis could not be detected in any patient.