Aetiology of endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF). 2001

J J Andy
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

On epidemiological basis EMF behaves like a vector transmitted disease. The cardiac pathologies of EMF and HES are identical. In some cases of HES, hypereosinophilia may return to normal, leaving residual heart disease that is exactly like EMF. Most temporary residents from Europe and North America who developed EMF while resident in the endemic areas of Africa had hypereosinophilia that was induced by helminths. In our case studies from the EMF endemic areas of Nigeria, most children with acute idiopathic myocarditis associated with helminth induced hypereosinophilia, developed clinical EMF on follow up. We showed also that the rate of decline in the incidence of hypereosinophilia in EMF cases was significantly related to the duration of symptoms. Our studies and other observations show that EMF, like HES is a multiple system disease with similar organ damage. The morphologic evolution of cardiac damage in EMF appears similar to that reported for HES; with a stage of myocarditis/pericarditis, followed by a stage of cardiac necrosis, a stage of thrombosis and by the chronic fibrotic stage. Also during larval migration, all the helminths associated with EMF induce the same spectrum of damage in the central and peripheral nervous system, in the lungs, kidneys and skin, as are reported for HES. The cardiovascular damage reported for these worms (which include hypersensitivity vasculitis, acute myocarditis/ pericarditis) are also similar to what is reported for HES. Acute endomyocardial necrosis and thrombosis that are similar to what is found in HES, have been documented in Trichinella Spiralis and in filariasis. Increased cerium concentrations have been documented in the endocardium of EMF cases from South India. It remains to be established whether cerium excess, which is known to stimulate collagen synthesis does accelerate the process of endomyocardial fibrosis, following cardiac necrosis (which may have been triggered by helminths and the associated hypereosinophilia).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004719 Endomyocardial Fibrosis A condition characterized by the thickening of the ventricular ENDOCARDIUM and subendocardium (MYOCARDIUM), seen mostly in children and young adults in the TROPICAL CLIMATE. The fibrous tissue extends from the apex toward and often involves the HEART VALVES causing restrictive blood flow into the respective ventricles (CARDIOMYOPATHY, RESTRICTIVE). Endomyocardial Fibroses,Fibroses, Endomyocardial,Fibrosis, Endomyocardial
D004802 Eosinophilia Abnormal increase of EOSINOPHILS in the blood, tissues or organs. Eosinophilia, Tropical,Hypereosinophilia,Tropical Eosinophilia,Hypereosinophilias,Tropical Eosinophilias
D006376 Helminths Commonly known as parasitic worms, this group includes the ACANTHOCEPHALA; NEMATODA; and PLATYHELMINTHS. Some authors consider certain species of LEECHES that can become temporarily parasitic as helminths. Aschelminthes,Gordius,Nematomorpha,Parasitic Worms,Worms, Parasitic,Aschelminthe,Helminth,Nematomorphas,Parasitic Worm,Worm, Parasitic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017681 Hypereosinophilic Syndrome A heterogeneous group of disorders with the common feature of prolonged eosinophilia of unknown cause and associated organ system dysfunction, including the heart, central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. There is a massive increase in the number of EOSINOPHILS in the blood, mimicking leukemia, and extensive eosinophilic infiltration of the various organs. Endocarditis, Loeffler's,Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome,Leukemia, Eosinophilic,Loeffler's Endocarditis,Endocarditis, Loeffler,Hypereosinophilic Syndrome, Idiopathic,Loeffler Endocarditis,Endocarditis, Loefflers,Eosinophilic Leukemia,Eosinophilic Leukemias,Hypereosinophilic Syndromes,Hypereosinophilic Syndromes, Idiopathic,Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndromes,Leukemias, Eosinophilic,Loefflers Endocarditis,Syndrome, Hypereosinophilic,Syndrome, Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic,Syndromes, Hypereosinophilic,Syndromes, Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic

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