Article Sections

Introduction

Myocarditis is an inflammatory condition of the myocardium that can be triggered by both infectious and noninfectious causes ( Table 1).  The clinical presentation and course of disease are highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic disease that resolves without clinical detection to serious illness with life-threatening complications.

Pathophysiology

Viral infection is the most common cause of myocarditis, with viruses, including coxsackievirus, adenovirus, and influenza virus, having been implicated.  An inadequate initial immune response may allow a virus to invade and persist within cardiomyocytes, causing ongoing inflammation with resulting myocardial damage and often contractile dysfunction.  Other causes of myocarditis generate a similar inflammatory response, with infiltration of immune cells and release of inflammatory cytokines leading to myocardial damage.

Pathology

The histopathology of viral myocarditis typically shows

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2

Tables

Table 1
Table 2