[Influenza myocarditis--pathophysiology and developmental mechanism of myocarditis]

Acute myocarditis is a rare complication in influenza infection, but it is serious and occasionally fatal. Recent application of intraaortic balloon pumping(IABP) and/or percutaneous cardiopulmonary support(PCPS) to the serious cases of viral myocarditis brought a better prognosis. We should recognize that the patient with viral infection such as influenza infection may have acute myocarditis and should make an early diagnosis for adequate treatment in time. To avoid misdiagnosis of acute myocarditis complicated with influenza infection, we must know characteristic symptoms, signs and laboratory findings of acute myocarditis during influenza infection. The mechanism of cardiocyte injury in experimental influenza myocarditis of mice is also discussed.