What is endocardial fibroelastosis?

endocardial fibroelastosis is a type of rare heart disorder that affects infants and children. This condition causes the lining of the chambers of the heart to become abnormally strong due to the overgrowth of fibrous tissue. Many cases of otherwise inexplicable heart failure in infants and young children are attributed to endocardial fibroelastosis, often requiring heart transplantation. Symptoms may include problems with feeding, breathing problems or excessive sweating. Any questions or concerns about endocardial fibroelastosis in an individual situation should be discussed with a doctor or other medical worker.

The exact cause of endocardial fibroelastosis is not always known, although several potential contributing factors need to be considered. In some cases, genetic factors may lead to the development of this disorder. Viral infections, such as mumps, can also cause endocardial fibroelastosis during fetal development.

difficulty with feeding and failure This weight gain can be signs of endocardithereal fibroelastosis, although it may be necessary to exclude health conditions other than the cause. The skin may seem pale or blue due to lack of sufficient oxygen in the blood. Fever may sometimes be present and blood tests can detect a low number of red blood cells or a high number of white blood cells. The doctor can detect the weak sounds of the heart to evaluate the patient when using a stethoscope.

breathing problems are common among those who have endocardial fibroelastosis. Cough and wheezing are particularly common among those who have this disorder, and breathing can be painful or strenuous. The indicator of this heart disorder may be the history of recurrent respiratory infections. In some cases, there are no warning signs of this disorder and death is sudden and completely unexpected. It is not uncommon for this condition to remain undiagnosed after the autopsy to determine the cause of death.

There is no specific standard treatment of endocardial fibroelastosis and individual symptoms are treated and controlled because they are evident. In case of severe heart damage, heart transplantation may be necessary. A child who undergoes heart transplant will have to take prescription drugs for the rest of their lives in an effort to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted organ. The transplanted heart usually does not pose the risk of this disorder, although the patient will have to be carefully monitored by a physician in order to diagnose and treat any complications as soon as possible in the disease process.