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Acute myocarditis presenting as acute myocardial infarction
A J Silverman1, N Kapadia, A J Borin
1Department of Medicine and Pathology, Botsford General Hospital, Farmington Hills, Mich, USA.
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
|April 1, 1995
Summary
Myocarditis can mimic heart attacks, especially in young patients with normal coronary arteries. Early consideration of myocarditis is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, can present with symptoms similar to acute myocardial infarction.
- Infectious agents are a common cause of myocarditis, but the etiology can be uncertain.
Observation:
- A young male patient presented to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction.
- Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries, prompting further investigation.
Findings:
- Autopsy revealed histologic evidence of active myocarditis, mixed-cell type.
- Neutrophilic infiltration and microabscess formation suggested an infectious etiology, though it remained unconfirmed.
Implications:
- Differentiating between acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis is challenging due to overlapping clinical and diagnostic features.
- Clinicians should consider myocarditis in young patients presenting with suspected myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries.