Myocarditis overview: Difference between revisions
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*[[Fainting]], often related to irregular heart rhythms | *[[Fainting]], often related to irregular heart rhythms | ||
*[[Low urine output]] | *[[Low urine output]] | ||
==Diagnosis== | |||
===Physical examination=== | |||
Physical examination in patients with myocarditis may reveal [[tachycardia]], [[cardiac gallop]], [[mitral regurgitation]] and [[edema]] suggestive of cardiac failure. A friction rub too may be noted in presence of concomitant [[pericarditis]]. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:27, 12 August 2011
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular part of the heart. It may present with chest pain, rapid signs of heart failure, or sudden death.
Epidemiology and Demographics
It is generally due to viral infections such as adenovirus, parvovirus B19, hepatitis C, and herpes virus 6 in developed countries and HIV, rheumatic disease in developing countries.
Clinicopathological classification[1]
- Fulminant myocarditis - Occurs after a viral prodrome. May present as acute severe cardiovascular compromise with ventricular dysfunction. The prognosis is good if the patients survive acute illness[2].
- Acute myocarditis - Presents with less distinct onset of illness with ventricular dysfunction. They may progress to dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Chronic active myocarditis - Has a less distinct onset of illness, with clinical and histologic relapses and development of ventricular dysfunction. Histologically, chronic inflammatory changes with mild to moderate fibrosis may be noted.
- Chronic persistent myocarditis - It is of less distinct onset. It is characterized with persistent histologic infiltration and myocyte necrosis without ventricular dysfunction despite the presence of symptoms.
Symptoms
There may be no symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to the flu. If symptoms occur, they may include:
- Palpitations
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Fever and other signs of infection including headache, muscle aches, sore throat, diarrhea, or rashes
- Joint pain or swelling
- Pedal edema
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting, often related to irregular heart rhythms
- Low urine output
Diagnosis
Physical examination
Physical examination in patients with myocarditis may reveal tachycardia, cardiac gallop, mitral regurgitation and edema suggestive of cardiac failure. A friction rub too may be noted in presence of concomitant pericarditis.
References
- ↑ Lieberman EB, Hutchins GM, Herskowitz A, Rose NR, Baughman KL (1991). "Clinicopathologic description of myocarditis". J Am Coll Cardiol. 18 (7): 1617–26. PMID 1960305.
- ↑ McCarthy RE, Boehmer JP, Hruban RH, Hutchins GM, Kasper EK, Hare JM; et al. (2000). "Long-term outcome of fulminant myocarditis as compared with acute (nonfulminant) myocarditis". N Engl J Med. 342 (10): 690–5. doi:10.1056/NEJM200003093421003. PMID 10706898.