Biomaterial Database

[Myocarditis. Epidemiology, etiology and clinical aspects]. 1994

G Friman, and J Karjalainen

Infektionskliniken, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala.

The term myocarditis covers a diversity of pathological conditions. Aetiologically, the best documented is acute infective myocarditis, predominantly caused by enteroviruses, particularly Coxsackie B. However, there are many possible sources of infection, and the management of immunosuppressed patients requires careful deliberation. Research into the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis has made formidable advances and provided detailed knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for myocardial damage. Microbiological techniques have yielded evidence of the involvement of Coxsackie viruses in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy. Nowadays, the term myocarditis has a strictly histopathological definition which is clinically applicable only in the few cases where endomyocardial biopsy is performed. The diagnosis, acute infective myocarditis, can usually be made with reasonable certainty on the basis of ECG findings and the serum concentrations of biochemical markers. Physical diagnostic procedures, particularly echocardiography, can provide useful supporting evidence. Prognosis is generally good in cases of acute infective myocarditis, whereas that in other forms of myocarditis varies from case to case. To date, antiviral agents have no established place in the treatment of viral myocarditis. Where diagnosis is based upon endomyocardial biopsy (e.g., in lymphocytic myocarditis), immunosuppressive therapy generally has no significant effect.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009205	Myocarditis	Inflammatory processes of the muscular walls of the heart (MYOCARDIUM) which result in injury to the cardiac muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC). Manifestations range from subclinical to sudden death (DEATH, SUDDEN). Myocarditis in association with cardiac dysfunction is classified as inflammatory CARDIOMYOPATHY usually caused by INFECTION, autoimmune diseases, or responses to toxic substances. Myocarditis is also a common cause of DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY and other cardiomyopathies.	Carditis,Myocarditides
D002311	Cardiomyopathy, Dilated	A form of CARDIAC MUSCLE disease that is characterized by ventricular dilation, VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION, and HEART FAILURE. Risk factors include SMOKING; ALCOHOL DRINKING; HYPERTENSION; INFECTION; PREGNANCY; and mutations in the LMNA gene encoding LAMIN TYPE A, a NUCLEAR LAMINA protein.	Cardiomyopathy, Congestive,Congestive Cardiomyopathy,Dilated Cardiomyopathy,Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, 1a,Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, Autosomal Recessive,Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, CMD1A,Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, LMNA,Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, With Conduction Defect 1,Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, with Conduction Deffect1,Cardiomyopathy, Familial Idiopathic,Cardiomyopathy, Idiopathic Dilated,Cardiomyopathies, Congestive,Cardiomyopathies, Dilated,Cardiomyopathies, Familial Idiopathic,Cardiomyopathies, Idiopathic Dilated,Congestive Cardiomyopathies,Dilated Cardiomyopathies,Dilated Cardiomyopathies, Idiopathic,Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Idiopathic,Familial Idiopathic Cardiomyopathies,Familial Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy,Idiopathic Cardiomyopathies, Familial,Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy, Familial,Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathies,Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003384	Coxsackievirus Infections	A heterogeneous group of infections produced by coxsackieviruses, including HERPANGINA, aseptic meningitis (MENINGITIS, ASEPTIC), a common-cold-like syndrome, a non-paralytic poliomyelitis-like syndrome, epidemic pleurodynia (PLEURODYNIA, EPIDEMIC) and a serious MYOCARDITIS.	Coxsackie Virus Infections,Infections, Coxsackie Virus,Infections, Coxsackievirus,Coxsackie Virus Infection,Coxsackievirus Infection
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000208	Acute Disease	Disease having a short and relatively severe course.	Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D001424	Bacterial Infections	Infections by bacteria, general or unspecified.	Bacterial Disease,Bacterial Infection,Infection, Bacterial,Infections, Bacterial,Bacterial Diseases
D015726	Giant Cells	Multinucleated masses produced by the fusion of many cells; often associated with viral infections. In AIDS, they are induced when the envelope glycoprotein of the HIV virus binds to the CD4 antigen of uninfected neighboring T4 cells. The resulting syncytium leads to cell death and thus may account for the cytopathic effect of the virus.	Giant Cells, Multinucleated,Multinucleated Giant Cells,Polykaryocytes,Syncytium,Syncytia,Cell, Giant,Cell, Multinucleated Giant,Cells, Giant,Cells, Multinucleated Giant,Giant Cell,Giant Cell, Multinucleated,Multinucleated Giant Cell,Polykaryocyte