This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dawood, M. M. Articles by Greene, T. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dawood, M. M. Articles by Greene, T. O.

(Circulation. 1996;94:113.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Epitome of Myocarditis

Moniz M. Dawood, MD; Enrique Soto, MD; Gordon M. Saperia, MD; Trevor O. Greene, MD

Saint Vincent Hospital and University of Massachusetts, Worcester.

Correspondence to Trevor O. Greene, MD, Saint Vincent Hospital, 25 Winthrop St, Worcester, MA 01604.

	Introduction

 
A 43-year-old woman developed flulike symptoms for 1 week and lightheadedness. She was found in ventricular tachycardia at a rate of 160 beats per minute. Echocardiography revealed moderate left ventricular systolic dysfunction and no valvular abnormality. Coronary angiography was normal. Ventricular tachycardia was incessant. Treatment with intravenous antiarrhythmics was unsuccessful. She died 72 hours later of refractory ventricular tachycardia resulting in cardiogenic shock.

View larger version (57K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Lead II of ECG consistent with ventricular tachycardia.

View larger version (154K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Cross section of heart at autopsy across the mid left ventricular cavity showing inflammatory process. Scattered area of pale myocardium (black arrow) due to severe inflammation. Areas of relatively healthy myocardium (white arrow) are also present.

View larger version (286K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Microscopic view of relatively preserved myocardium (A). Marked inflammatory cellular infiltration (B) is seen in other areas.

	Footnotes

 
The editor of Images in Cardiovascular Medicine is Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, MD, Chief, Department of Pathology, St Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, and Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of Texas Medical School and Baylor College of Medicine.

Circulation encourages readers to submit carciovascular images to Dr Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, St Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, 6720 Bertner, MC 4-265, Houston, TX 77030.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Walther, V. Falk, M. A. Borger, J. Kempfert, J. Ender, A. Linke, G. Schuler, and F. W. Mohr Transapical aortic valve implantation in patients requiring redo surgery Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., August 1, 2009; 36(2): 231 - 235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Rogers, S. Zakaria, K. A. Thom, K. M. Flammer, M. Kanno, and M. R. Mehra Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Myocarditis Mayo Clin. Proc., November 1, 2008; 83(11): 1275 - 1279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Chukwuemeka, V. Rao, S. Armstrong, J. Ivanov, and T. David Aortic valve replacement: a safe and durable option in patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., February 1, 2006; 29(2): 133 - 138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Maganti, V. Rao, M. A. Borger, J. Ivanov, and T. E. David Predictors of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Isolated Aortic Valve Surgery Circulation, August 30, 2005; 112(9_suppl): I-448 - I-452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Gelsomino, G. Morocutti, R. Frassani, P. Da Col, R. Carella, and U. Livi Usefulness of the cryolife o'brien stentless suprannular aortic valve to prevent prosthesis-patient mismatch in the small aortic root J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 5, 2002; 39(11): 1845 - 1851. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Cohen, J. Ivanov, R. D. Weisel, V. Rao, M. K. Mohabeer, and D. A. G. Mickle Aprotinin and Dipyridamole for the Safe Reduction of Postoperative Blood Loss Ann. Thorac. Surg., March 1, 1998; 65(3): 674 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]