Ana Olga Mocumbi1,2, J Russell Stothard3, Paulo Correia-de-Sá4,5, Magdi Yacoub6,7. 1. Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Faculdade de Medicina, Maputo, Mozambique. amocumbi@gmail.com. 2. Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Marracuene, Mozambique. amocumbi@gmail.com. 3. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK. 4. Centro de Investigação Farmacológica e Inovação Medicamentosa, Porto, Portugal. 5. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 6. Imperial College London, London, UK. 7. Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan, Egypt.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims at highlighting the need to better understand the pathogenesis and natural history of endomyocardial fibrosis when set against its changing endemicity and disease burden, improvements in diagnosis, and new options for clinical management. RECENT FINDINGS: Progress in imaging diagnostic techniques and availability of new targets for drug and surgical treatment of heart failure are contributing to earlier diagnosis and may lead to improvement in patient survival. Endomyocardial fibrosis was first described in Uganda by Davies more than 70 years ago (1948). Despite its poor prognosis, the etiology of this neglected tropical restrictive cardiomyopathy still remains enigmatic nowadays. Our review reflects on the journey of scientific discovery and construction of the current guiding concepts on this mysterious and fascinating condition, bringing to light the contemporary knowledge acquired over these years. Here we describe novel tools for diagnosis, give an overview of the improvement in clinical management, and finally, suggest research themes that can help improve patient outcomes focusing (whenever possible) on novel players coming into action.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims at highlighting the need to better understand the pathogenesis and natural history of endomyocardial fibrosis when set against its changing endemicity and disease burden, improvements in diagnosis, and new options for clinical management. RECENT FINDINGS: Progress in imaging diagnostic techniques and availability of new targets for drug and surgical treatment of heart failure are contributing to earlier diagnosis and may lead to improvement in patient survival. Endomyocardial fibrosis was first described in Uganda by Davies more than 70 years ago (1948). Despite its poor prognosis, the etiology of this neglected tropical restrictive cardiomyopathy still remains enigmatic nowadays. Our review reflects on the journey of scientific discovery and construction of the current guiding concepts on this mysterious and fascinating condition, bringing to light the contemporary knowledge acquired over these years. Here we describe novel tools for diagnosis, give an overview of the improvement in clinical management, and finally, suggest research themes that can help improve patient outcomes focusing (whenever possible) on novel players coming into action.
Authors: Twalib Olega Aliku; Joselyn Rwebembera; Sulaiman Lubega; Wanzhu Zhang; Charles Lugero; Judith Namuyonga; John O O Omagino; Emmy Okello; Peter Solomon Lwabi Journal: Front Cardiovasc Med Date: 2022-04-15