title: Treatment and outcome of biopsy-proven fulminant myocarditis in adults.
abstract: Fulminant myocarditis may be rapidly fatal with severe haemodynamic compromise in previously healthy patients. We reviewed our experience with eight cases of biopsy-proven fulminant myocarditis (seven cases with lymphocytic myocarditis and one with eosinophilic myocarditis). Immunosuppression was given in seven out of eight cases. Mechanical circulatory support was required in 50% of the patients. Time from onset of illness to recovery of ventricular function varied from 12 to 17 days. All except one patient were alive at a mean follow-up of 4.4 years after the acute illness. Patients with acute fulminant myocarditis should be treated aggressively with immunosuppression and, if necessary, mechanical circulatory support during the first 2 to 3 weeks of the illness because of the reversible nature of this illness and good long-term prognosis.
authors.forename: Elaine M C
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Wing-Hing
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Clement S W
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome