[Lymphocytic myocarditis. Response to treatment with immunosuppressive drugs]

To evaluate immunosuppressive drugs on the treatment of myocarditis.

Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 102 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. According to histopathologic aspect the patients were divided into two groups: I--with active lymphocytic myocarditis (ALM); II--without ALM: 51 patients. Ten patients from group I (Ib), with moderate or intense myocarditis were treated with prednisone and azathioprine during six months.

After six months of observation, in group Ia (41 patients): 41 improved, 22% worsened and 12% died; in group Ib (10 patients): 60% improved, 10% worsened and 30% died; 51 patients in group II: 59% improved, 17% worsened and 10% died. Control biopsy on group Ib showed decrease of myocarditis in 62%.

Immunosuppressive drugs do not always improve quality of life, or increase the survival, although in more than 50% of the cases it was possible to control inflammatory process.