About endocardial fibroelastosis

What is endocardial fibroelastosis?

Endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) is a rare heart disorder that affects infants and children. It is characterized by a thickening within the muscular lining of the heart chambers due to an increase in the amount of supporting connective tissue (inelastic collagen) and elastic fibers. The normal heart has four chambers. Two chambers, known as atria, are separated from each other by a partition called the atrial septum. The other two chambers, known as ventricles, are also separated by a septum. Valves connect the atria (left and right) to their respective ventricles.

The symptoms of endocardial fibroelastosis are related to the overgrowth of fibrous tissues causing abnormal enlargement of the heart (cardiac hypertrophy), especially the left ventricle. Impaired heart and lung function eventually lead to congestive heart failure. Endocardial fibroelastosis may occur for no apparent reason (sporadic) or may be inherited as an X-linked (EFE2) or autosomal recessive (EFE1) genetic trait.

What are the symptoms for endocardial fibroelastosis?

The symptoms of endocardial fibroelastosis begin rapidly, generally between the ages of 4 and 12 months. Symptoms are due to the overgrowth of fibrous tissue and thickening of the lining of the hearts’ chambers (i.e., endocardium and subendocardium), especially the left ventricle. In some very rare cases of EFE, the left ventricle is small (hypoplastic) or of normal size and the right ventricle is enlarged.

The most common symptoms of endocardial fibroelastosis include Difficulty breathing (dyspnea), breathlessness, grunting sounds during breathing, coughing, Irritability, Weakness, and/or a pale facial appearance (pallor). Other symptoms may include Fatigue, Failure to thrive, increased Sweating, an abnormal blue skin coloration on the feet and hands (peripheral cyanosis), and/or wheezing.

Infants and children with endocardial fibroelastosis may have unusual chest sounds that can be heard during a physician’s examination with a stethoscope. Bubbling, moist sounds (rales) suggest fluid accumulation in the airways. Unusual heart sounds (murmurs) are also typically present in children with EFE. Excessive backward flow of blood from the left ventricle, through the mitral valve and into the left atrium (mitral regurgitation) is also a common finding in children with this disorder. Symptoms of mitral regurgitation may include heart palpitation and intolerance to exercise.

Life-threatening complications associated with endocardial fibroelastosis may develop, including an abnormally rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), irregular heart rhythms (atrial and ventricular arrhythmias), and/or congestive heart failure (congestive cardiomyopathy).

What are the causes for endocardial fibroelastosis?

Some cases of endocardial fibroelastosis occur as a result of random changes (mutations), with no apparent cause (sporadic). These cases are known as endocardial fibroelastosis 1 (EFE1). Others cases are thought to be inherited as an X-linked recessive genetic trait. These cases are known as endocardial fibroelastosis 2 (EFE2). In EFE1, neither the chromosome nor the precise location of the mutated gene on that chromosome have been determined. In EFE2, the mutated gene is located on the X chromosome, but its precise location is not known.

Chromosomes, which are present in the nucleus of human cells, carry the genetic information for each individual. Human body cells normally have 46 chromosomes. Pairs of human chromosomes are numbered from 1 through 22 and the sex chromosomes are designated X and Y. Males have one X and one Y chromosome and females have two X chromosomes. Each chromosome has a short arm designated “p” and a long arm designated “q”. Chromosomes are further sub-divided into many bands that are numbered. For example, “chromosome 11p13” refers to band 13 on the short arm of chromosome 11. The numbered bands specify the location of the thousands of genes that are present on each chromosome.

Genetic diseases are determined by the combination of genes for a particular trait that are on the chromosomes received from the father and the mother.

Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits the same abnormal gene for the same trait from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the defective gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents and be genetically normal for that particular trait is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.

All individuals carry 4-5 abnormal genes. Parents who are close relatives (consanguineous) have a higher chance than unrelated parents to both carry the same abnormal gene, which increases the risk to have children with a recessive genetic disorder.

Dominant genetic disorders occur when only a single copy of an abnormal gene is necessary for the appearance of the disease. The abnormal gene can be inherited from either parent, or can be the result of a new mutation (gene change) in the affected individual. The risk of passing the abnormal gene from affected parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.

X-linked recessive genetic disorders are conditions caused by an abnormal gene on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes but one of the X chromosomes is “turned off” and all of the genes on that chromosome are inactivated. Females who have a disease gene present on one of their X chromosomes are carriers for that disorder. Carrier females usually do not display symptoms of the disorder because it is usually the X chromosome with the abnormal gene that is “turned off”. A male has one X chromosome and if he inherits an X chromosome that contains a disease gene, he will develop the disease. Males with X-linked disorders pass the disease gene to all of their daughters, who will be carriers. A male cannot pass an X-linked gene to his sons because males always pass their Y chromosome instead of their X chromosome to male offspring. Female carriers of an X-linked disorder have a 25% chance with each pregnancy to have a carrier daughter like themselves, a 25% chance to have a non-carrier daughter, a 25% chance to have a son affected with the disease, and a 25% chance to have an unaffected son.

X-linked dominant disorders are also caused by an abnormal gene on the X chromosome, but in these rare conditions, females with an abnormal gene are affected with the disease. Males with an abnormal gene are more severely affected than females, and many of these males do not survive.

Other cases of endocardial fibroelastosis are thought to occur in association with other metabolic defects, such as Barth syndrome or carnitine deficiency syndromes.

What are the treatments for endocardial fibroelastosis?

Treatment

Infants who are diagnosed early in the course of the disease respond more favorably to treatment than those who are not diagnosed until substantial heart damage has already occurred. Treatment for EFE is essentially the same as for chronic heart failure. A variety of drugs may be used to help control congestive heart failure that is associated with EFE, and to reduce heart rate and improve the ability of the heart to contract. Diuretics may be used to eliminate fluids from the body. Drugs that help maintain normal heart rhythm (i.e., antiarrhythmics) may be administered to correct arrhythmias. Medications that prevent the clotting of blood (anticoagulants) may also be necessary. Prolonged bed rest may facilitate healing of myocardial lesions since the heart is working at a reduced load when a person rests.

For some children with advanced illness, heart transplantation may be the treatment of last resort.

Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients and their families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.

What are the risk factors for endocardial fibroelastosis?

Endocardial fibroelastosis is a rare genetic disorder that affects the valves of the heart, causing them to thicken and stiffen. The thickening and stiffening can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, blood clots, and other serious complications.

Fortunately, there are risk factors for endocardial fibroelastosis that you can be aware of to help you identify and prevent this condition.

Risk factors for endocardial fibroelastosis include:

  • Age – The older you are, the more likely it is that you will develop endocardial fibroelastosis. This condition occurs most commonly in people over 65 years of age, but it has been found in individuals as young as 30 years old and even infants.
  • Family history – If your parents or siblings have had this condition, then you have a higher risk as well. It's important to note that while family history plays a role in determining your risk, it does not guarantee that you will develop endocardial fibroelastosis.
  • Diabetes – If you have diabetes, then your risk of developing endocardial fibroelastosis increases significantly due to the fact that high blood sugar levels can damage your heart valves over time. If left untreated, this could lead to serious complications such as stroke or kidney failure due to high blood pressure buildup.
Symtpoms
Difficulty breathing (dyspnea),Breathlessness,Grunting sounds during breathing,Coughing,Irritability,Weakness,Fatigue, Failure to thrive,Increased sweating,An abnormal blue skin coloration on the feet and hands (peripheral cyanosis),Wheezing

Conditions
Congenital heart diseases-hypoplastic left heart syndrome,Aortic stenosis,Atresia

Drugs
Diuretics,ACE inhibitors,Cardiac glycosides,Oral anticoagulants

Is there a cure/medications for endocardial fibroelastosis?

Endocardial fibroelastosis is a rare disease that affects the heart valves. It is also known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type III, which is an inherited disorder that causes abnormal collagen synthesis in connective tissues and skin. People with EFD typically have abnormal collagen resulting in abnormal elastic fibers.

  • There is no cure for endocardial fibroelastosis, but there are medications that can help manage symptoms.
  • The first line of treatment is in treating the symptoms of endocardial fibroelastosis. This means that your doctor will recommend you take medications to treat any pain or discomfort you feel. You may also need to take antibiotics or other medications to prevent infection.
  • There are two types of medication that can be used to treat endocardial fibroelastosis: diuretics and vasodilators. Diuretics are drugs that increase your body's urine output and make it easier for your kidneys to work properly. Vasodilators help reduce blood flow through the heart chamber walls, which makes it easier for the heart muscle to beat properly.
  • In some cases, endocardial fibroelastosis may require surgery to repair damage caused by the disease. For instance, if there's an infection in your heart valve or it starts leaking because of holes between layers of tissue (called fistulae), then surgery will be necessary to repair these issues before they get worse.
Symtpoms
Difficulty breathing (dyspnea),Br

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