Myocarditis and look-alikes: when the diagnosis matters

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Immunology
• Pathology

Background:

• Myocarditis is heart muscle inflammation with diverse triggers, including infections and autoimmune responses.
• While many myocarditis cases resolve, some require specific interventions for better outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review five distinct conditions that present as or mimic myocarditis.
• To highlight the need for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these specific myocarditis forms.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on five conditions mimicking myocarditis.
• Emphasis on diagnostic tools like endomyocardial biopsy.
• Discussion of targeted treatment approaches.

Main Results:

• Identified five conditions: giant cell myocarditis, immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis, eosinophilic myocarditis, myocarditis in systemic lupus erythematosus, and genetic forms.
• These conditions necessitate specific diagnostic workups and targeted therapies, often including immunosuppression.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing and differentiating these specific myocarditis subtypes is critical.
• Targeted diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are essential for managing severe or complex myocarditis cases and improving prognoses.