title: Complete heart block due to granulomatous giant cell myocarditis: report of 3 cases.
abstract: 3 patients with chronic complete AV block were found at autopsy to have granulomatous giant cell myocarditis (GGCM). In 1 patient an unusual clinical course led to more extensive investigation including echocardiography which revealed ventricular septal abnormalities. A review of the literature is presented. Although GGCM is a rare disease echocardiography may be a useful screening procedure in patient with AV block especially in the presence of immunological disorders.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis