Enzymes of collagen synthesis and type III procollagen amino-propeptide in serum from Nigerians with chronic endomyocardial fibrosis.

The hallmark of cardiac pathology in chronic African endomyocardial fibrosis is the laying down of excess collagen in the endomyocardium. Preliminary observations on the assay of enzymes of collagen synthesis and type III procollagen aminopropeptide in chronic African endomyocardial fibrosis are reported. Serum immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase protein was elevated in 4, serum galactosyl-hydroxylysyl glucosyl transferase activity was elevated in 5, and type III procollagen aminopropeptide was also elevated in 5 patients. Cardiac cirrhosis and endomyocardial fibrosis could be responsible for the elevated values in these patients. The relative contribution of fibrosis of the myocardium to these elevated values remains to be clarified.