[Diagnosis of nonrheumatic myocarditis]

Titres of antibodies neutralizing Coxsackie B1-6 virus were examined in 272 patients with nonrheumatic myocarditis and myocarditic cardiosclerosis, and also in two groups of controls (150 normal subjects and 70 patients with other cardiac diseases). A group of 123 patients were screened simultaneously for antibodies to Coxsackie B virus, influenza, parainfluenza, adenoviruses and beta-hemolytic Group A streptococcus. The diagnosis of myocarditis was based on clinical, electrocardiographic, enzymologic and functional electrocardiographic findings. Serologic data demonstrated that most cases of nonrheumatic myocarditis were associated with Coxsackie and influenza viruses. An etiologic classification, diagnostic criteria and problems of differential diagnosis of nonrheumatic myocarditis are discussed.