Myocarditis

In this chapter, inflammation of the muscle layer of the heart is discussed. The most common cause is viral, though acute rheumatic fever may cause pericarditis, myocarditis and endocarditis in childhood. The role of Echocardiogram to diagnose myocarditis is secondary to Cardio Vascular Magnetic Resonance (CVMR), since cellular changes are better recorded by the latter. Hypokinetic or akinetic motion of the cardiac musculature which does not indicate the blockage of any particular coronary vessel (through segmental involvement) should alert one to look for myocarditis. In general, myocarditis is rare, but the presence of fever and chest pain should prompt one to look for it. Spontaneous resolution of myocarditis is common though steroids and immunosuppressants do play a role in more serious cases. Treatment of causative factors should be concomitantly carried out.