Heart 2000;84:245-250 ( September )

Cardiovascular medicine

Myocarditis mimicking acute myocardial infarction: role of endomyocardial biopsy in the differential diagnosis A Angelini^a, V Calzolari^b, F Calabrese^a, G M Boffa^b, F Maddalena^b, R Chioin^b, G Thiene^a

^a Department of Pathology, University of Padua Medical School, Via A Gabelli 61, 35121 Padova, Italy, ^b Department of Cardiology, University of Padua Medical School

Correspondence to: Dr Thiene email: cardpath{at}ux1.unipd.it

Accepted 17 May 2000

OBJECTIVETo test the hypothesis, using endomyocardial biopsies, that unexplained cases of apparent acute myocardial infarction were caused by myocarditis.
MATERIALBetween 1992 and 1998, 12 patients were admitted to the coronary care unit with severe chest pain, ST segment elevation, increased serum creatine kinase and MB isoenzyme, and with wall motion abnormalities on echocardiogram highly suggestive of acute myocardial infarction. These patients were further investigated by endomyocardial biopsy, as their coronary angiograms were normal. A diagnosis of myocarditis was made according to the Dallas criteria. A panel of antibodies was used for immunohistochemical characterisation of inflammatory cell infiltrate. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect viral genomes in seven cases.
RESULTSHaematoxylin and eosin staining of the endomyocardial biopsy showed active myocarditis in six patients and borderline myocarditis in one. Immunohistochemistry was positive for inflammatory cell infiltrates in 11 patients, including all the seven who were positive on haematoxylin and eosin staining according to the Dallas criteria. Only one patient had no evidence of inflammation. PCR was positive in two patients, both for Epstein-Barr virus. Follow up showed complete resolution of echocardiographic abnormalities in all patients except one.
CONCLUSIONSMyocarditis can mimic acute myocardial infarction in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries, leading to errors of treatment. In patients with apparent myocardial infarction and a normal coronary angiogram, endomyocardial biopsy may help in the diagnosis of myocarditis. The sensitivity of endomyocardial biopsy was enhanced by using immunohistochemical and molecular biological techniques.


Keywords: acute myocardial infarction; endomyocardial biopsy; myocarditis

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© 2000 by Heart
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