Coronary blood flow by transthoracic echocardiography in children with endomyocardial fibrosis

Pediatr Cardiol. 2009 Apr;30(3):371-3. doi: 10.1007/s00246-008-9330-0. Epub 2008 Nov 25.

Abstract

We report herein the coronary flow (CF) pattern determined by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) in two children with biventricular endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF). Endomyocardial biopsy showed various degrees of cardiac fibrosis in both patients as well as signs of chronic inflammation in one of the patients. TTDE showed a significant increase in CF in both the left anterior descending coronary artery and the posterior descending coronary artery compared with age-matched healthy controls. The diastolic flow in patients with EMF appeared to terminate earlier than in controls. The mechanisms and the potential significance of these novel findings are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coronary Circulation / physiology*
  • Coronary Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Disease / etiology*
  • Coronary Disease / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Endomyocardial Fibrosis / complications*
  • Endomyocardial Fibrosis / diagnosis
  • Endomyocardial Fibrosis / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant