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Myocardial lymphocytes. Fact, fancy, or myocarditis?
1Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, California.
The American Journal of Cardiovascular Pathology
|January 1, 1987
Summary
A normal population of lymphocytes exists in the heart muscle, impacting the diagnosis of lymphocytic myocarditis. This finding is crucial for accurate clinical assessment and treatment considerations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- The diagnosis of active lymphocytic myocarditis using endomyocardial biopsy is controversial.
- The presence of lymphocytes in healthy myocardium is not well understood but is critical for diagnosing myocarditis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of lymphocytes in the myocardium of individuals without heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of endomyocardial biopsies from 86 heart transplant donors without systemic or cardiac disease.
Main Results:
- Inflammatory foci, predominantly lymphocytic, were identified in 9.3% of biopsies (8 out of 86 cases).
- These foci were defined as containing more than five inflammatory cells.
Conclusions:
- A normal population of myocardial lymphocytes exists.
- This normal lymphocyte presence must be considered when diagnosing myocarditis to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate therapeutic implications.