myocarditis
Sign in to saveMyocarditis is inflammation of the cardiac muscle. Myocarditis can progress to inflammatory cardiomyopathy when there is associated ventricular remodeling and cardiac dysfunction due to chronic inflammation. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pain, decreased ability to exercise, and an irregular heartbeat. The duration of problems can vary from hours to months. Complications may include heart failure, due to dilated cardiomyopathy or cardiac arrest.
AI overview
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat, with effects lasting anywhere from hours to months. In serious cases, it can progress to heart failure or lead to life-threatening complications like cardiac arrest, especially if the inflammation causes lasting damage to the heart's structure and function.
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Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Myocarditis
- Medical condition.image
- Viral myocarditis (1).JPG
- Medical condition.caption
- A microscope image of myocarditis at autopsy in a person with acute onset of heart failure. The black dots are primarily lymphocytes infiltrating the myocardium.
- Medical condition.field
- Infectious disease, cardiology
- Medical condition.synonyms
- Inflammatory cardiomyopathy (infectious)
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, decreased ability to exercise, irregular heartbeat
- Medical condition.complications
- Heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrest
- Medical condition.duration
- Hours to months
- Medical condition.causes
- Usually viral infection, also bacterial infections, certain medications, autoimmune disorders
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- Electrocardiogram, blood troponin, heart MRI, heart biopsy
Article
19 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Causes
- Infections
- Immune conditions
- Drug reactions and toxins
- Vaccination
- Physical injuries
- Mechanism
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medication
- Mechanical support
- Prognosis
- Epidemiology
- Myocarditis and COVID-19
- History
- See also
- References
- External links
Myocarditis is inflammation of the cardiac muscle. Myocarditis can progress to inflammatory cardiomyopathy when there is associated ventricular remodeling and cardiac dysfunction due to chronic inflammation. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pain, decreased ability to exercise, and an irregular heartbeat. The duration of problems can vary from hours to months. Complications may include heart failure, due to dilated cardiomyopathy or cardiac arrest.
Myocarditis is most often due to a viral infection. Other causes include bacterial infections, certain medications, toxins and autoimmune disorders. A diagnosis may be supported by an electrocardiogram (ECG), increased troponin, heart MRI, and occasionally a heart biopsy. An ultrasound of the heart is important to rule out other potential causes, such as heart valve problems.