FIBROSIS OF THE ENDOCARDIUM AND THE MYOCARDIUM WITH MURAL THROMBOSIS

Abstract

Cardiac failure in young persons lacking the usual features of organic heart disease or associated renal lesions has frequently been ascribed to isolated (Fiedler's) myocarditis. A study of the reported cases of isolated myocarditis indicates a heterogeneous disease group related to known and to unknown infectious or toxic agents. Some changes are frankly inflammatory, others degenerative; some are acute, others subacute or chronic. Within the past few years evidence has accumulated that dietary deficiency can cause clinically evident heart disease which hitherto may have fallen into this vaguely defined classification. With advancing knowledge it becomes desirable to dissociate this group into more sharply defined types. Recently we encountered 3 cases in which the patients died in the hospital of congestive failure of obscure origin. In all cases the patients were carefully studied during life and examined post mortem. Clinically and pathologically these cases resemble each other closely, and without recourse