Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of endocardial fibroelastosis secondary to aortic stenosis

Abstract

Endocardial fibroelastosis is characterized by a diffuse thickening of the left ventricular endocardium with or without other cardiac anomalies. This entity had been diagnosed prenatally previously (Bovicelli et al., 1984) at a gestational age of 36 weeks. A case of endocardial fibroelastosis due to aortic stenosis accompanied by pericardial effusion, ascites, and hydramnion, diagnosed ultrasonographically and confirmed pathologically at 21 weeks of gestation, is presented.

Endocardial Fibroelastosis is Secondary to Hemodynamic Alterations in the Chick Embryonic Model of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

“…Primary EFE is not associated with other significant morphological or structural abnormalities of the heart. Secondary EFE is associated with various congenital heart diseases (Angelov et al, 1984), most notably hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (Essed et al, 1975) and aortic stenosis or atresia (Achiron et al, 1988), but also maternal autoimmune diseases (Nield et al, 2002). Other developmental abnormalities in HLHS include underdevelopment of the left atrium and ventricle, deformed or very small mitral and aortic valves, and the right ventricle rather the left forming the apex of the heart (Bohlmeyer et al, 2003;Sedmera et al, 2005).…”

Primary Endocardial Fibroelastosis and Nonimmune Hydrops Fetalis: Case Report with Autopsy

“…A diagnosis of EFE in utero using fetal echocardiography may be made on the basis of increased echodensity of the endocardium and poor contractility of the ventricle [12][13][14]. Unfortunately, this case described did not undertake this test.…”