title: [Endomyocardial biopsy: its value in tropical pathology. Apropos of 3 new cases].
abstract: The authors report their experience with three endomyocardial biopsies in cases of endomyocardial fibrosis; two of them were successful. The light and electron microscopical changes found were of two types: one showed the classical appearances of pure fibrosis, which was acellular and associated with degenerative changes in the heart muscle cell; the other type consisted of young fibrous tissue with numerous fibroblasts secreting a copious fibrillary substance which may have been the precursor of collagen fibres. Endomyocardial biopsy is, in experienced hand, a useful means of diagnosis in the field of tropical heart disease: it can be helpful in diagnosis, provided that the biopsy site is carefully controlled by anteriography and cathereisation; additionally, the opportunity to study the histological and electron microscopical changes which this technique affords should lead to a better understanding of  the pathogenesis of those tropical cardiac disorders whose aetiology is yet to be established.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003094:Collagen; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
vernacular_title: La biopsie endomyocardique: son intérêt en pathologie tropicale. A propos de 3 nouveaux cas