Endomyocardial fibrosis in the Ceylonese.

Several papers dealing with endomyocardial fibrosis have appeared in recent years, most from Africa (Bedford and Konstam, 1946; Edge, 1946; Gray, 1951; Davies and Ball, 1955), a few from America (Smith and Furth, 1943; Elster et al., 1955), and from Europe (Loffler, 1936; Miimme, 1940). It differs from fibrosis of the endocardium and myocardium accompanying occlusive disease of the coronary arteries, anomalous origin of the coronary arteries, congenital fibro-elastosis and the fibrotic forms of nutritional cardiopathy. In endomyocardial fibrosis there is no disease of the coronary vessels and fibrosis is mainly confined to the endocardium and the myocardium underlying it. Information regarding geographical and racial distribution is scanty. It was thought worthwhile, therefore, to report three cases of endomyocardial fibrosis in the Ceylonese.