View article

OBJECTIVES

We sought to use echocardiography to assess the presentation and potential for recovery of left ventricular (LV) function of patients with fulminant myocarditis compared with those with acute myocarditis.

BACKGROUND

The clinical course of patients with myocarditis remains poorly defined. We have previously proposed a classification that provides prognostic information in myocarditis patients. Fulminant myocarditis causes a distinct onset of illness and severe hemodynamic compromise, whereas acute myocarditis has an indistinct presentation, less severe hemodynamic compromise and a greater likelihood of progression to dilated cardiomyopathy.

METHODS

Echocardiography was performed at presentation and at six months to test the hypothesis that fulminant (n = 11) or acute (n = 43) myocarditis could be distinguished morphologically.

RESULTS

Patients with both fulminant (fractional shortening …