[Myocarditis in an autopsy cohort].

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Pathology
• Infectious Diseases
• Autopsy Studies

Context:

• Myocarditis is an inflammatory condition of the heart muscle with diverse etiologies.
• Autopsy studies provide crucial data for understanding disease prevalence and causes of death.
• Determining the etiology of myocarditis is essential for clinical management and public health.

Purpose:

• To determine the prevalence and etiological spectrum of myocarditis in a large autopsy cohort.
• To investigate the role of septic and idiopathic myocarditis as causes of death.

Summary:

• A retrospective autopsy study identified 159 cases (1.8%) of myocarditis among 8,663 consecutive autopsies, including 7 pediatric cases.
• Etiology was determined in 68 cases, with 61 attributed to septic myocarditis (including fungal and toxoplasmosis) and 91 cases classified as idiopathic.
• Idiopathic myocarditis was a confirmed cause of death in 10 cases, and in others, the extent of myocardial infiltrate suggested its probable involvement in mortality.

Impact:

• This study highlights the significant prevalence of myocarditis in autopsy findings.
• It underscores the importance of identifying specific etiologies, particularly septic and idiopathic forms, in myocarditis cases.
• Findings contribute to a better understanding of myocarditis's role in sudden and unexpected deaths.