Endomyocardial biopsy in diagnosis of cardiomyopathies.

Abstract

The Konno bioptome, adapted to the intracardiac catheter, has been used in 64 patients in the differential diagnosis ofcardiomyopathies, as an additional diagnostic method during standard right heart catheterization and angiocardiography. In the specific instance of endomyocardial fibrosis the Konno biopsy enables histological diagnosis in life. Not surprisingly, in advanced cases dense collagen scar is the usualfeature in endomyocardialfibrosis. The Konno method is a real advance in the evaluation and differential diagnosis of heart disease of obscure origin. The technique of biopsy has proved easy to acquire and it is without hazard. Illustrative data from 5 cases of endomyocardial fibrosis and 2 cases of 'congestive cardiomyopathy' are detailed.