Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Pages: 462-465

Journal: Rechtsmedizin

Volume number: 30

Issue number: 6

ISSN: 0937-9819

eISSN: 1434-5196

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-020-00411-2

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
Following hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and coronary artery sclerosis, myocarditis is the third most frequent cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The clinical course of myocarditis is extremely variable and the success of treatment strongly depends on the etiology and therefore a comprehensive diagnostic procedure. Endomyocardial biopsy is still regarded as the gold standard and the results can have an important influence on treatment planning. The case of a 35-year-old woman is presented in whom chronic active lymphocytic myocarditis in association with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV 6) was diagnosed. The patient died unexpectedly 8 months after the diagnosis. The autopsy including histological preparation of myocardial samples revealed evidence of a giant cell myocarditis, which was not considered as a differential diagnosis during the patient's lifetime. The case highlights the problems of making a diagnosis during the lifetime, if the myocardial samples are not representative for detection of the underlying disease and illustrates the autopsy findings of this rare form of myocarditis.

Harvard Citation style: Birngruber, C., Hochscheid, C. and Dettmeyer, R. (2020) Unrecognized fatal idiopathic giant cell myocarditis-A case report, Rechtsmedizin, 30(6), pp. 462-465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-020-00411-2

APA Citation style: Birngruber, C., Hochscheid, C., & Dettmeyer, R. (2020). Unrecognized fatal idiopathic giant cell myocarditis-A case report. Rechtsmedizin. 30(6), 462-465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-020-00411-2