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Myocarditis and acute infantile hemiparesis. Case report
Helvetica Paediatrica Acta
|December 1, 1984
Summary
Myocarditis in infants can lead to stroke. Early anticoagulation is crucial if heart damage or clots are suspected to prevent cerebral vascular accidents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, can present with diverse complications.
- Cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs), or strokes, are rare but serious in infants.
Observation:
- A 13-month-old infant presented with acute hemiparesis, indicating neurological deficit.
- Cranial computed tomography (CT) revealed occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery.
Findings:
- The infant's hemiparesis was attributed to a CVA, likely caused by an embolus from a mural thrombus.
- This suggests a potential link between myocarditis and embolic stroke in pediatric cases.
Implications:
- Anticoagulant therapy should be strongly considered in pediatric myocarditis cases.
- This is particularly important when myocardial ischemic damage or intracavitary thrombus formation is suspected.
- Prompt consideration of anticoagulation may prevent severe neurological outcomes like stroke.