ABSTRACT
The authors describe the cases of 86 black african patients (75 males and 11 females), affected by a congestive primitive cardiomyopathy (CMP), confirmed by echocardiography. Echocardiographic investigation revealed, in all cases, stigmas of a developed CMP: cavitary dilatation, hypokinesia and thinness of walls, offsetting and miniaturization of the valvula mitralis. Pericardial effusion was associated in 20 cases, and thrombosis of left cavities was recognized through bi-dimensional investigation. Angiography and hemodynamics performed in 15 patients pointed out in all cases a significant falling off of the pumping function and the muscular function. Angiography, in 8 cases, displayed a left ventricular cavity distended and hypokinetic, with a moderate mitral incompetency. Evolution was characterized by the following complications: heart failure: 68 cases--systemic thromboembolism: 5 cases--pulmonary embolism: 2 cases--auricular rhythmic irregularity: 20 cases--ventricular rhythmic irregularity: 42 cases--second or third degree atrioventricular blocks: 5 cases. Death rate was 25% (22 patients). Taking into account these 86 cases, the position of the congestive CMP defined among the tropical CMP and its classification studied as well as its echocardiographic and evolutive peculiarities.
