Friday, February, 10, 2012

Myocarditis

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Inflammation - heart muscle


Symptoms

There may be no symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to the flu. If symptoms occur, they may include:

  • Abnormal heartbeat
  • Chest pain that may resemble a heart attack
  • Fatigue
  • Fever and other signs of infection including headache, muscle aches, sore throat, diarrhea, or rashes
  • Joint pain or swelling
  • Leg swelling
  • Shortness of breath

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

  • Fainting, often related to irregular heart rhythms
  • Low urine output

Signs and tests

A physical examination may show no abnormalities, or may reveal the following:

  • Abnormal heartbeat or heart sounds (murmurs, extra heart sounds)
  • Fever
  • Fluid in the lungs
  • Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
  • Swelling (edema) in the legs

Tests used to diagnosis myocarditis include:

  • Blood cultures for infection
  • Blood tests for antibodies against the heart muscle and the body itself
  • Chest x-ray
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Heart muscle biopsy (endomyocardial biopsy)
  • Red blood cell count
  • Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram)
  • White blood cell count

Review Date: 05/04/2010
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/4/2010).

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)