Skip to main content
Log in

Endomyocardial fibrosis: missing tricuspid valve and Fontan-like circulation

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Heart and Vessels Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a progressive type of obliterative/restrictive cardiomyopathy characterized by fibrosis of the apical endomyocardium of the ventricles. Although the prognosis of EMF patients is poor in tropical regions, the exact clinical course and pathogenesis of patients with EMF are not known. Here, we report the rare case with EMF in the seventh decade, who showed the disappearance of papillary muscles, chordae tendineae, and part of the tricuspid valves due to massive right ventricular thrombus. Because of those unusual findings of the isolated RV involvement, we observed continuous forward pulmonary artery flow, as occurring in a Fontan circulation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mocumbi AO, Ferreira MB, Sidi D, Yacoub MH (2008) A population study of endomyocardial fibrosis in a rural area of Mozambique. N Engl J Med 359:43–49

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Seth S, Thatai D, Sharma S, Chopra P, Talwar KK (2004) Clinico-pathological evaluation of restrictive cardiomyopathy (endomyocardial fibrosis and idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy) in India. Eur J Heart Fail 6:723–729

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mocumbi AO, Yacoub S, Yacoub MH (2008) Neglected tropical cardiomyopathies: II. Endomyocardial fibrosis: myocardial disease. Heart 94:384–390

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Mocumbi AO, Falase AO (2013) Recent advances in the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of endomyocardial fibrosis in Africa. Heart 99:1481–1487

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Fontan F, Baudet E (1971) Surgical repair of tricuspid atresia. Thorax 26:240–248

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Shimizu M, Miyamoto K, Nishimura Y, Izumi G, Sakai S, Inai K, Nishikawa T, Nakanishi T (2015) Risk factors and serological markers of liver cirrhosis after Fontan procedure. Heart Vessels. doi:10.1007/s00380-015-0743-4

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bjork VO, Olin CL, Bjarke BB, Thoren CA (1979) Right atrial-right ventricular anastomosis for correction of tricuspid atresia. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 77:452–458

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Perazzolo Marra M, Thiene G, Rizzo S, De Lazzari M, Carturan E, Tona F, Caforio AL, Cacciavillani L, Marcolongo R, Tarantini G, Corbetti F, Iliceto S, Basso C (2014) Cardiac magnetic resonance features of biopsy-proven endomyocardial diseases. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 7:309–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Salemi VM, Rochitte CE, Shiozaki AA, Andrade JM, Parga JR, de Avila LF, Benvenuti LA, Cestari IN, Picard MH, Kim RJ, Mady C (2011) Late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and prognosis of endomyocardial fibrosis patients. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 4:304–311

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Patel AK, Ziegler JL, D’Arbela PG, Somers K (1971) Familial cases of endomyocardial fibrosis in Uganda. Br Med J 4:331–334

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Kishimoto C, Shioji K, Hashimoto T, Nonogi H, Lee JD, Kato S, Hiramatsu S, Morimoto SI (2014) Therapy with immunoglobulin in patients with acute myocarditis and cardiomyopathy: analysis of leukocyte balance. Heart Vessels 29:336–342

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Frustaci A, Russo MA, Chimenti C (2009) Randomized study on the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with virus-negative inflammatory cardiomyopathy: the TIMIC study. Eur Heart J 30:1995–2002

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takashi Kohno.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shiraishi, Y., Kohno, T., Fujii-Nishimura, Y. et al. Endomyocardial fibrosis: missing tricuspid valve and Fontan-like circulation. Heart Vessels 31, 1579–1582 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-015-0792-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-015-0792-8

Keywords

Navigation