Abstract
Many patients who undergo cardiac transplantation do so as a result of end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DC). Little is known about the causes of this condition, but long-term follow-up studies reveal a high incidence of DC in patients who have had acute viral myocarditis. The following article examines the role of myocarditis as a precursor of DC and discusses the possible etiology of myocarditis—based on animal experiments and clinical studies—as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment. (Texas Heart Institute Journal 1987; 14:268-275)
Keywords: Myocarditis
Keywords: dilated cardiomyopathy
Keywords: myocardial biopsy
Keywords: immunosuppressive therapy
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