| EMF (endomyocardial fibrosis) | RHD (rheumatic heart disease) |
| Starts as a febrile illness with facial swelling | Starts as a febrile illness with joint swelling |
| May occur in neonatal period and infancy | Uncommon in neonatal period and infancy |
| AV (atrioventricular) regurgitation mild to moderate | Moderate to severe |
| Stenosis of AV valves uncommon | Common |
| Semilunar valves are unaffected | Commonly affected |
| Pancarditis like picture is present | Present |
| Antiheart antibodies are found | Found |
| Infectious and immunological mediated mechanism is suggested | Suggested |
| Endocardial and apical fibrosis | Commissural fusion and chordal fibrosis |
| Fibrosis is a diffuse process and may affect skeletal muscles | Localized to valvular apparatus only |