cardiovascular-agents and Endomyocardial-Fibrosis

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a common myocardial disease in cats, characterized by diastolic dysfunction and atrial enlargement without myocardial hypertrophy. Especially, endomyocardial form of RCM, one of the subtypes in RCM, is characterized by endocardial fibrosis, endocardial scar bridging the interventricular septum and left ventricular (LV) free wall, and deformation and distortion of the LV. However, it is unclear how the myocardial dysfunction and the endocardial scar contribute to the pathophysiology of RCM disease progression.. A 3 years and 2 months old, intact male, Domestic shorthaired cat was presented for consultation of cardiac murmur. At the first visit (day 0), the notable abnormal finding was echocardiography-derived chordae tendineae-like structure bridging the interventricular septum and the LV free wall, resulting high-speed blood flow in the left ventricle. Electrocardiography, thoracic radiography and noninvasive blood pressure measurements were normal. No left atrial enlargement was observed, and LV inflow velocity showed an abnormal relaxation pattern. Although there was no abnormality in tissue Doppler imaging-derived myocardial velocity, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) revealed a decrease in the LV longitudinal strain and an increase in endocardial to epicardial ratio of the LV circumferential strain on day 0. On day 468, obvious left atrium enlargement and smoke like echo in the left atrium were observed. The LV inflow velocity was fused, and the tissue Doppler imaging-derived early-diastolic myocardial velocity of the septal mitral annulus decreased. Regarding 2D-STE, LV circumferential strain was further decreased, and right ventricular strain was additionally decreased. Although the general condition was good, we made a clinical diagnosis of endomyocardial RCM based on the above findings. On day 503, the cat showed the radiographic evidence of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure signs.. Cats with abnormal LV structure and associated myocardial dysfunction like this case needs careful observation. Additionally, 2D-STE indices may be useful for early detection of myocardial dysfunction in feline RCM.

Topics: Animals; Cardiomyopathies; Cardiovascular Agents; Cat Diseases; Cats; Endomyocardial Fibrosis; Heart Failure; Male

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare condition and a major cause of death in tropical countries. The etiology of EMF remains elusive, and no specific treatment has been developed yet, therefore it carries poor prognosis.. An 81-year-old male Chinese patient with a history of long-standing exertional breathlessness, presented with worsening symptoms rapidly evolving to orthopnea. A proper specific treatment was prescribed to the patient in the following days, including diuretics, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor and beta blockers. The patient died of progressive multiple organ failure.. Echocardiography is technically limited due to the acoustic shadowing as a result of the calcification. Chest computed tomography is a more accurate diagnostic tool to examine the anatomic distribution and extent of endomyocardial calcification in this rare case.

Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular Agents; China; Disease Progression; Dyspnea; Echocardiography; Endomyocardial Fibrosis; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Male; Multiple Organ Failure; Predictive Value of Tests; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a neglected restrictive cardiomyopathy of unknown aetiology and unclear natural history, which causes premature deaths in endemic areas. We present the case of a 13-year-old boy from a highly endemic area, presenting with concurrent signs of chronic EMF and severe hypereosinophilia associated with active schistosomal cystitis. We discuss the possible role of this parasitic infection in determining the progression of EMF in endemic areas for both conditions.

Topics: Adolescent; Antiplatyhelmintic Agents; Autopsy; Biopsy; Cardiovascular Agents; Chronic Disease; Endomyocardial Fibrosis; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome; Male; Myocardium; Schistosomiasis; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome

Endomyocardial fibrosis was diagnosed in a 30-year-old Ghanese woman suffering from heart failure and intracardial thrombi. Endomyocardial fibrosis is an endemic disease in tropical countries with a high mortality rate. Since the aetiology of this disease is still unknown, patients can only be treated symptomatically. Endocardial and myocardial damage give rise to reactive fibrosis, subendocardial infarction and thrombus formation, resulting in heart failure and thromboembolic processes.

Topics: Adult; Cardiovascular Agents; Drug Therapy, Combination; Echocardiography; Endomyocardial Fibrosis; Female; Heart Failure; Heart Function Tests; Humans; Pulmonary Embolism