title: [Endomyocardial biopsy--helpful in differential diagnosis between myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. A case report].
abstract: Endomyocardial biopsy is an established technique to distinguish between myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Even when clinical symptoms for myocarditis are lacking, immunohistologic findings may establish a clear diagnosis. For treatment, however, an early diagnosis is mandatory. We report on a 44 year old patient who was admitted with the echocardiographic diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. He underwent diagnostic angiocardiography and endomyocardial biopsy. The latter demonstrated an active myocarditis. At the time of read-mission, 2 weeks later, the patient had deteriorated. Now, additional to a symptomatic therapy, prednisolone, azathioprine and human immunoglobulin G were given and patient conditions improved dramatically. The use of endomyocardial biopsy seems recommendable in order to define patients diagnosis and their results may be necessary to decide patients therapy.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muurling
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maisch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*
vernacular_title: Endomyokardbiopsie--Hilfreich in der Differentialdiagnostik zwischen Myokarditis und dilativer Kardiomyopathie. Ein Fallbericht.