title: Novel associations of giant cell myocarditis: two case reports and a review of the literature.
abstract: Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is a rare and frequently fatal disorder with no proven treatment. It is a disease of young, predominantly healthy adults. Without transplantation, patients usually die of heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias. Due to the poor prognosis of the condition, prompt recognition and diagnosis are of clinical importance. Approximately 19% of these cases are associated with autoimmune diseases. The present article describes two unique cases of GCM associated with autoimmune diseases not previously reported in the literature - discoid lupus erythematosis and autoimmune hepatitis. A review of the natural history and treatment of GCM is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Saint Paul's Hospital and The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Salima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shariff
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Straatman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ignaszewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology