Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 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

Acute fulminant myocarditis after diphtheria, polio, and tetanus vaccination

Shye-Jao Wu1, Shen Sun, Jiun-Yi Li

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. wsj003@med-assn.org.tw

Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals
|November 30, 2006
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of acute fulminant myocarditis in an infant followed a diphtheria, polio, and tetanus vaccination. Despite initial survival with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the infant later died from heart failure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Vaccinations are crucial for preventing infectious diseases in infants.
  • Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, can have severe consequences.

Observation:

  • An infant developed acute fulminant myocarditis, characterized by fever and dyspnea, post-vaccination.
  • The infant required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for profound cardiogenic shock.

Findings:

  • The patient survived ECMO but experienced recurrent ventricular dysfunction two months later.
  • The infant ultimately died while awaiting a heart transplant.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a potential, albeit rare, adverse cardiac event following vaccination.
  • Further investigation into vaccine-associated myocarditis in infants is warranted.
  • Understanding such events is critical for vaccine safety monitoring and risk-benefit assessments.

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