[Late prognosis of viral myocarditis]

85 cases of virologically proved viral myocarditis were followed up for 96.45 +/- 23.7 months for a better understanding of the late prognosis of this disease. Among these cases, 63 (74.1%) were cured, 14 (16.5%) remained with sequelae, 8 (3.5%) became chronic and 5 (5.9%) of the patients died. Most of the abnormal findings, i.e. physical signs, x-ray, ECG and UCG changes, originally existing on admission of the survived patients disappeared. The clinical features of the chronic cases resemble those of cardiomyopathy. The main causes of death were heart failure and sudden death. In order to reduce mortality, sequelae and chronicity, the importance of early virological examination, early clinical diagnosis and early and persistent treatment are stressed.