LOEFFLER ENDOCARDITIS

Course overview

LOEFFLER ENDOCARDITIS IS RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY, DEFINED AS AN IMPAIRED RELAXATION OF THE HEART WITH IMPAIRED DIASTOLIC FILLING. DIFFUSE EOSINOPHIL INFILTRATION OF THE HEART CAUSES IT FIRST DESCRIBED BY W LOEFFLER IN 1936. THE CONDITION IS ASSOCIATED WITH PERIPHERAL EOSINOPHILIA WHICH LASTS FOR 6 MONTHS. IT IS ONE OF THE RARE COMPLICATIONS OF HYPER-EOSINOPHILIC SYNDROME, WHICH IS THE EOSINOPHILIC INFILTRATION OF THE TISSUES WITH NO OBVIOUS ETIOLOGY. EOSINOPHILIC ENDOMYOCARDIAL DISEASE OR FIBROBLASTIC ENDOCARDITIS CAN BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY FOR LOEFFLER ENDOCARDITIS. THE PATIENT MAY PRESENT WITH AN INTRACARDIAC THROMBUS, ARRHYTHMIAS, AND/OR ACUTE HEART FAILURE WHICH CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING, IF NOT TREATED EARLY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE RECOGNITION AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS CONDITION.