[Endomyocardial fibrosis in children].
BACKGROUND
Recent advances in imaging techniques can facilitate the diagnosis of endomyocardial fibrosis.


METHODS
Two cases of endomyocardial fibrosis were diagnosed in two Tunisian children, one aged 3 years and the other 12 years. Both were admitted with severe cardiac failure, predominantly of the right ventricule. Two dimensional echocardiography showed an apical amputation with echogenic material plus a thick, dense endocardial image, particularly at the level of the papillary muscles. The older child who also had cardiac catheterization, died 2 years later and the younger child died 4 years after diagnosis. Post mortem examination showed fibroelastic thickening of the endocardium and areas of fibrosis in the muscles of both children.


CONCLUSIONS
The advantage of two-dimensional echocardiography over other imaging techniques is that it can confirm the diagnosis of endomyocardial fibrosis and indicate the extent and degree of fibrosis.
Service de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisie.
M
M
Brigui
F
F
Remadi
N
N
Belkhiria
J
J
Ata
N
N
Jenaieh
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
Fibrose endomyocardique chez l'enfant.