Tropical Endomyocardial Fibrosis: Natural History, Challenges, and Perspectives.

摘要: Tropical endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a neglected disease of poverty that afflicts rural populations in tropical low-income countries, with some certain high-prevalence areas. EMF characterized by the deposition fibrous tissue endomyocardium, leading to restrictive physiology. Since first descriptions Uganda 1948, high-frequency areas for have included Africa, Asia, and South America. Although there no clear consensus on unified hypothesis, it seems likely dietary, environmental, infectious factors may combine susceptible individual give rise an inflammatory process damage scar formation. The natural history includes active phase recurrent flare-ups inflammation evolving chronic heart failure. In phase, biventricular involvement most common presentation, followed isolated right-sided disease. Marked ascites out proportion peripheral edema usually develops as typical feature EMF. carries very poor prognosis. addition medical management failure, early open surgery (endocardectomy valve repair/replacement) appears improve outcomes extent; however, technically challenging not available endemic Increased awareness among health workers policy makers need hour unhindered development efficient preventive therapeutic strategies.