title: Characterization of Löeffler eosinophilic myocarditis by means of real time three-dimensional contrast-enhanced echocardiography.
abstract: Löeffler endocarditis is a rare myocardial disease often due to eosinophil leukemia or idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Degranulation of eosinophils within the eosinophil infiltrated myocardium is associated with myocardial necrosis due to the release of toxic cationic proteins, and with mural thrombi formation, which can occur anywhere in the ventricles. Thrombus formed on denuded myocardium is replaced by fibrosis as the final pathological stage of the disease, eventually leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy. We describe a multimodality imaging approach to the diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of Löeffler disease complicated by thrombus formation and neoangiogenesis of LV apex.
authors: Department of Heart and Vessels, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italy.
authors: Maria Riccarda
authors: MR
authors: Del Bene
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Cappelli
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Rega
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Venditti
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Barletta
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D003287:Contrast Media; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017681:Hypereosinophilic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride