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Published on: February 8, 2019
Giant cell myocarditis: a life-threatening disorder heralded by orbital myositis
Muhammad Sajawal Ali1, Benjamin I Mba1, Aliya Noor Husain2
1Department of Medicine, John H Stroger, Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Insights
Orbital myositis (OM) can present with cardiac issues. Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) should be suspected in OM patients with ventricular tachycardia and heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Orbital myositis (OM) is an inflammatory condition affecting eye muscles.
- Cardiac involvement in OM is rare but can be severe.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old male with OM presented with ventricular tachycardia and cardiogenic shock.
- Initial diagnosis considered arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy due to right ventricular dilation.
- Cardiac MRI was limited by arrhythmias.
Findings:
- Endomyocardial biopsy confirmed giant cell myocarditis (GCM).
- This is the seventh reported case of GCM associated with OM.
- The patient required an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider GCM in OM patients with cardiac symptoms.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of GCM in OM patients may improve outcomes.
- Further research is needed to understand the link between OM and GCM.
Abstract:
A 40-year-old man with a history of orbital myositis (OM) presented to the emergency department with ventricular tachycardia requiring electrical cardioversion. Postcardioversion ECG showed right bundle branch block, while an echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 20% and a dilated right ventricle. Cardiac MRI produced suboptimal images because the patient was having frequent arrhythmias. The rest of the work up, including coronary angiography, was unremarkable. Given the dilated right ventricle, we suspected arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and discharged the patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. 1 week later, he was readmitted with cardiogenic shock; endomyocardial biopsy revealed giant cell myocarditis (GCM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the seventh case report of GCM described in a patient with OM. We recommend that clinicians maintain a high degree of suspicion for GCM in patients with OM presenting with cardiac problems.
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