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Myocarditis evolving in cardiomyopathy: when genetics and offending causes work together
Antonio Cannata'1, Jessica Artico1, Piero Gentile1
1Cardiovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Trieste e Università degli Studi di Trieste.
Insights
Myocarditis, an inflammatory heart condition, can progress to chronic heart muscle disorders due to genetic factors interacting with viral infections. Identifying these genetic predispositions is key for precision medicine in treating myocarditis patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Myocarditis is an infectious-inflammatory heart condition.
- It can progress to chronic heart muscle disorders like dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Genetic background influences disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of genetic predisposition in myocarditis progression.
- To understand the interaction between viral infections and host genetics.
- To identify targets for precision medicine in myocarditis treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on myocarditis and genetic factors.
- Analysis of viral mechanisms in heart muscle remodeling.
- Exploration of genetic associations with post-myocarditis cardiomyopathy.
Main Results:
- Viral infections combined with genetic predisposition can lead to chronic heart conditions.
- Certain viruses can mimic genetic heart disease phenotypes.
- Viral infections impact left ventricular remodeling post-infection.
Conclusions:
- Individual genetic background is crucial in myocarditis progression.
- Understanding genetic factors is vital for developing targeted therapies.
- Precision medicine approaches are needed for individualized myocarditis treatment.
Abstract:
Myocarditis is an infectious-inflammatory disease often superimposed to individual genetic background which could favour or inhibit its progression into a chronic heart muscle disorder (most often dilated cardiomyopathy, rarely arrhythmogenic, or right-sided cardiomyopathy). Post-myocarditis cardiomyopathy is likely caused by a complex interaction between the viral infection and an individual predisposition. Some viruses are able to highlight a clinical phenotype replicating a model similar to the genetically determined conditions, while other can affect the resolution or the progressive remodelling of the left ventricle after the infectious process. The identification of specific individual genetic backgrounds, or genes favouring the progression of the disease, are important future research goals for precision medicine aiming at a specific and individualized treatment for patients affected with myocarditis.
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