Cardiac Wolframinopathies: A Case Report of Myocarditis and a Literature Review of Cardiac Involvement in Wolfram Syndrome 1

Abstract

Purpose: Myocarditis is frequently a sporadic disease, but may also occur in the context of genetic disorders which may increase susceptibility to cardiac inflammation. Cardiac involvement in Wolfram syndrome type 1 (WS1) has been scarcely characterized. To our knowledge, no cases of virus-negative myocarditis have been reported in the WS1 pediatric population. Methods: We report the description of a pediatric case of acute myocarditis in the context of WS1, followed by a literature review of cardiovascular involvement associated with wolframin variants, and discuss potential pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic options. Results: A young patient with WS1, treated with insulin and liraglutide, was admitted for acute chest pain. Cardiac magnetic resonance and endomyocardial biopsy were performed to confirm the clinical suspicion of myocarditis. While congenital heart diseases and arrhythmias have been described previously in patients with WS1, this is the first description of virus-negative myocarditis. Conclusions: Myocarditis may represent a possible manifestation of cardiovascular involvement in WS1. Cardiovascular screening may be considered in patients with WS1.

Keywords

• diabetes
• Wolfram syndrome
• myocarditis
• liraglutide