Echocardiography in the diagnosis of right ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis

Abstract

Twenty-one patients with endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) and right ventricular involvement were studied by M-mode echocardiography. All 21 patients showed echocardiographic findings consisting of (i) increased right ventricular dimension, (ii) paradoxical septal motion, (iii) increased right ventricular outflow dimension (iv) thickening of the right ventricular anterior wall with increased right ventricular anterior wall motion, and (v) easily recordable tricuspid valve. In addition, some of the patients had posterior pericardial effusion, and fine fluttering of the tricuspid valve. EMF was diagnosed clinically in all the patients, haemodynamically and angiographically in 15 and confirmed at autopsy in one.

None of these echo findings was present in two patients with constrictive pericarditis, and two patients with massive ascites due to portal hypertension.