Calcified left ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis.
Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare condition, but in certain tropical countries it is a major cause of illness and death. Moreover, the etiology of the disease is unknown, it has no specific treatment, and it carries a poor prognosis. As both the heart and the peritoneum may be affected by the inflammation and deposition of fibrous tissue, even left ventricular EMF may present with gross ascites mimicking right-heart failure. Notwithstanding attempts to standardize the diagnostic criteria, the clinical presentation may still be challenging. The case is described of calcified left ventricular EMF presenting with right-heart failure in the absence of right ventricular fibrosis.
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. grimaldi.antonio@hsr.it
Antonio
A
Grimaldi
Anna Chiara
AC
Vermi
Ottavio
O
Alfieri
Iacopo
I
Olivotto
Francesco M
FM
Sacco
Paolo G
PG
Camici
Juergen
J
Freers
D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology