Endomyocardial fibrosis associated with mansoni schistosomiasis

• Main Authors: Renata de Carvalho Bicalho Carneiro, Alexandre Lemos da Silveira Santos, Luisa Campos Caldeira Brant, Fábio Tôrres Rabelo, Carla Maia Ligeiro, Isabella Peixoto de Barcelos, Vanessa Barbosa Silva, Virgínia Sheila Xavier Silva, Maria do Carmo Pereira Nunes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2011-10-01
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Endomiocardiofibrose; Esquistossomose mansoni; Cardiomiopatia restritiva
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822011000500026&lng=en&tlng=en

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people worldwide. EMF is the most common cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy, caused by deposition of fibrous tissue on endocardial surfaces. EMF is a major cause of death in areas where it is endemic, but the pathogenesis of the disease is poorly understood. Schistosomiasis mansoni is a parasitic disease endemic in Brazil, where EMF has also been described. The association between EMF and schistosomiasis has been suggested in various publications, seeking a possible correlation between endocardial and periportal fibroses. This report describes a case of EMF associated with schistosomiasis.