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Active myocardial damage without attending inflammatory response in dilated cardiomyopathy
D Obrador1, M Ballester, I Carrió
1Department of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|June 1, 1993
Summary
Indium-111 antimyosin antibody uptake in dilated cardiomyopathy patients does not reliably indicate active myocarditis. Histologic findings in explanted hearts showed no correlation with antibody uptake, questioning its diagnostic value.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy often shows indium-111 antimyosin antibody uptake, suggesting myocyte damage.
- Previous studies lack correlation between antimyosin antibodies and histologic findings in these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare indium-111 antimyosin antibody uptake with histologic findings in explanted hearts of dilated cardiomyopathy patients before transplantation.
Main Methods:
- 21 dilated cardiomyopathy patients awaiting heart transplant underwent indium-111 antimyosin antibody studies.
- Results were correlated with histologic analysis of explanted hearts.
Main Results:
- 71% (15/21) of patients showed antimyosin antibody uptake.
- Only 7 patients had active myocarditis on histology.
- 11 patients had intense antibody uptake but no myocyte damage or inflammation.
Conclusions:
- In dilated cardiomyopathy, indium-111 antimyosin antibody uptake does not equate to myocardial inflammation.
- The diagnostic utility of antimyosin antibodies for active myocarditis in this population is questionable.