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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Quantitative Visualization of Leukocyte Infiltrate in a Murine Model of Fulminant Myocarditis by Light Sheet Microscopy
06:49

Quantitative Visualization of Leukocyte Infiltrate in a Murine Model of Fulminant Myocarditis by Light Sheet Microscopy

Published on: May 31, 2017

Outcome of acute fulminant myocarditis in children

N Amabile1, A Fraisse, J Bouvenot

  • 1Cardiologie Pédiatrique, Département de Cardiologie, Hôpital d'enfants de La Timone, 264 rue St Pierre, 13385 Marseilles Cedex 05, France.

Heart (British Cardiac Society)
|February 2, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) in children presents severely but has a favorable outcome with aggressive management. Most survivors recover fully, highlighting the importance of intensive care and supportive therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) is a severe cardiac condition in children.
  • Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing pediatric AFM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical features of acute fulminant myocarditis in children.
  • To evaluate the outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with AFM.

Main Methods:

  • Diagnostic criteria included severe acute heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, and recent viral illness.
  • Eleven children with AFM were analyzed retrospectively.
  • Treatment involved intensive care, mechanical ventilation, inotropic support, corticosteroids, and intravenous immunoglobulin.

Main Results:

  • The study included 11 children with a median age of 1 year.
  • Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 22%.
  • Viruses identified included parvovirus B19, Epstein-Barr, varicella zoster, and coxsackie.
  • Five patients experienced cardiac arrest, with four successfully resuscitated.
  • Ten survivors showed normalized LVEF and remained asymptomatic at follow-up.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric AFM, despite severe presentation, has a favorable prognosis.
  • Aggressive symptomatic management is essential for improving outcomes.
  • Heart transplantation is reserved for cases unresponsive to maximal supportive therapy.
Abstract

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