Coronary Blood Flow by Transthoracic Echocardiography in Children with Endomyocardial Fibrosis

Abstract

We report herein the coronary flow (CF) pattern determined by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) in two white 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 agematched 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.

Review findings included diminished coronary flow reserve after surgery in children with congenital heart disease and inflammation

“…Endomyocardial fibrosis has been shown to lead to increased myocardial work and increase the flow . The authors of another study reported that the diastolic flow was distorted with an earlier termination.…”