02-22-2006, 02:18 PM
An adult from a temperate climate develops heart failure with peripheral edema, breathlessness, and decreased exercise tolerance. Echocardiographic studies demonstrate that the ventricles are not expanding normally during diastole. Endocardial biopsy demonstrates fibrosis of the endocardium and focal myocardial necrosis in the adjacent myocardium. An eosinophilic infiltrate is prominent in the biopsy, and peripheral blood eosinophilia is also present. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
B. Cardiac amyloidosis
C. Endocardial fibroelastosis
D. Idiopathic subaortic stenosis
E. Loeffler endocarditis
A. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
B. Cardiac amyloidosis
C. Endocardial fibroelastosis
D. Idiopathic subaortic stenosis
E. Loeffler endocarditis