Ventricular remodeling in Loeffler endocarditis: implications for therapeutic decision making.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the morphological and functional evolution of ventricular abnormalities in Loeffler endocarditis.


RESULTS
We describe 5 patients, including 3 with long-term echocardiographic follow-up, in whom apical obliteration due to fibro-thrombotic thickening of the endocardium showed favorable patterns of evolution. In one patient there was almost complete resolution of the obliterative process with consequently increased effective ventricular volume. In two patients formation of a flow-passage in the fibrocalcific apical 'floor' between the main medioventricular cavity and the apical chamber, leading to a 'double-chambered' left ventricle was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical therapy and appropriate anticoagulation, can induce favorable long-term ventricular remodeling in Loeffler endocarditis.
Lofiego
Carla
C
Institute of Cardiology, University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Ferlito
Marinella
M
Rocchi
Guido
G
Biagini
Elena
E
Perugini
Enrica
E
Branzi
Angelo
A
Rapezzi
Claudio
C
D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D018450:Disease Progression; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*