Echocardiographic profile of endomyocardial fibrosis in Tanzania, East Africa

Abstract

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is endemic in parts of Africa, South and Central America, and Asia, and occurs sporadically throughout the world.1-3 A few cases have been reported in Caucasians in temperate climates rarely in the absence of prior residence in tropical countries. This disease, which was first described by Davies et al. is essentially restrictive ardiomyopathy characterized by EMF or thickening, usually involving the apex and outflow tracts of one or both ventricles.