# The sad tale of a youthful right ventricle struggling with endomyocardial fibrosis

## TL;DR

A 15-year-old girl from Guinea was diagnosed with rare heart disease called endomyocardial fibrosis, which led to severe heart failure and ultimately cardiac arrest.

## Contribution

This case highlights the challenges in diagnosing and managing endomyocardial fibrosis in young patients.

## Key findings

- Right ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis was diagnosed in a 15-year-old girl.
- The patient declined surgery and suffered cardiac arrest two months later.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for better outcomes in EMF.

## Abstract

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare and often underdiagnosed form of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Prognosis is generally unfavorable. Early diagnosis, along with surgical and medical intervention, is crucial for improved outcomes. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl from Guinea who presented with suspected Ebstein’s anomaly and severe right heart failure. Multimodal cardiac imaging revealed right ventricular EMF. Despite counseling on prognosis, the family declined surgery. The patient experienced cardiac arrest two months later.