CARDIOVASCULAR FEATURES OF 11 PATIENTS WITH EOSINOPHILIC ENDOMYOCARDIAL DISEASE

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (205) , 23-39
Abstract
The clinical features, cardiac investigations and treatment of 11 patients with biventricular eosinophilic endomyocardial disease, who were followed up for a mean of 3.2 yr were described. Three patients died. Five patients presented with heart disease and hypereosinophilia. Six other patients presented with hypereosinophilia and developed cardiac disease later. Histological studies showed early acute necrotic lesions in 5 patients, later thrombotic lesions in 1 and late fibrotic lesions in 3 patients. Endomyocardial biospy was the method of choice for diagnosing early acute necrotic and thrombotic lesions. Late fibrotic lesions were best shown by amplitude processed 2-dimensional echocardiography and angiocardiography. Episodes of heart failure responded well to treatment with prednisolone which appeared to inhibit progression of heart disease in 2 patients. Three patients with severe ventricular disease and valvular regurgitation responded well to surgical treatment. Eosinophilic endomyocardial disease apparently can now be investigated and treated effectively at each stage from early subclinical lesions to late incapacitating endomyocardial fibrosis.