Cardiac Fibrosis - Connection With Excess Blood Serotonin (5-HT)

Connection With Excess Blood Serotonin (5-HT)

Certain diseases such as gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors of the mid-gut, which sometimes release large amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine, commonly known as 5-HT or serotonin into the blood, may produce a characteristic pattern of mostly right-sided cardiac fibrosis which can be identified at autopsy. This pathology has also been seen in certain West-African tribes who eat foods (Matoke —a green banana) containing excess amounts of serotonin.

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