Calcified left ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare condition, but in certain tropical countries it is a major cause of illness and death. Moreover, the etiology of the disease is unknown, it has no specific treatment, and it carries a poor prognosis. As both the heart and the peritoneum may be affected by the inflammation and deposition of fibrous tissue, even left ventricular EMF may present with gross ascites mimicking right-heart failure. Notwithstanding attempts to standardize the diagnostic criteria, the clinical presentation may still be challenging. The case is described of calcified left ventricular EMF presenting with right-heart failure in the absence of right ventricular fibrosis. © Copyright by ICR Publishers 2012.