Ultrasonic studies on endocardial fibroelastosis.

Four patients with endocardial fibroelastosis were studied by two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. The two-dimensional echocardiography showed the characteristic echo from the abnormally thickened endocardium of the left ventricle in every case. Of the 4 cases, 2 were still suffering from congestive heart failure at the time of the study and the other 2 had been already free from clinical symptoms. In the former group, the ultrasonic findings revealed an enlargement of the left ventricle (large left ventricular dimension index) and poor movement of the anterior mitral leaflet which was indicated by a decrease in the diastolic descent rate. The latter group presented almost normal findings concerning the above points. The ultrasonic method is thus proved to be very useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of clinical conditions in cases of endocardial fibroelastosis.