Long-term treatment of morphologically verified myocarditis: successes and probable errors. Case report

Abstract

Diagnosis and treatment of myocarditis can be challenging, including determining indications for heart transplantation. We present a 6-year medical history of a 54 years old patient with severe morphologically verified viral-negative lymphocytic myocarditis and systemic manifestations (onset of hemorrhagic vasculitis) combined with moderate coronary atherosclerosis, which regressed according to repeated coronary angiography. For 5 years, the patient received immunosuppressive therapy with methylprednisolone and azathioprine with a significant improvement. Repeated relapses of atrial fibrillation required correction of basic therapy and plasmapheresis. The disease was complicated by thyrotoxicosis and multi-organ dysfunction; the autopsy showed persistent myocarditis activity. The myocarditis is a chronic condition and requires a review of the treatment strategy at each stage.

Keywords

• chronic virus-negative lymphocytic myocarditis
• anti-cardiac antibodies
• endomyocardial biopsy
• immunosuppressive therapy
• plasmapheresis