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[Myocarditis]
12nd Department of Internal Medicine, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine
|July 8, 2000
Summary
Myocarditis, an under-diagnosed heart muscle inflammation, is often caused by viruses. This review explores viral persistence, autoimmune responses, and repetitive infections as potential causes of post-myocarditic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Virology
Context:
- Myocarditis is an inflammatory heart muscle disorder frequently under-diagnosed.
- Viral infections are the primary cause in developed nations.
- The link between acute myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is long-recognized but poorly understood.
Purpose:
- To review the known and proposed mechanisms linking myocarditis to dilated cardiomyopathy.
- To summarize findings from human samples and animal models.
- To introduce a novel hypothesis regarding repetitive viral infections.
Summary:
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on myocarditis, focusing on its etiology and the progression to dilated cardiomyopathy.
- It examines viral persistence and autoimmune mechanisms, supported by experimental models.
- A new hypothesis involving recurrent viral infections as a driver of DCM is presented.
Impact:
- Provides a comprehensive overview of myocarditis-induced DCM pathogenesis.
- Highlights the need for further research into viral persistence and autoimmune triggers.
- Suggests new avenues for investigating the development of dilated cardiomyopathy.