title: Biventricular assist device terminates polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in giant cell myocarditis.
abstract: We present the case of a 55-year-old woman with giant cell myocarditis who experienced a rapid deterioration in her condition. As her heart failure progressed, she developed more ventricular ectopic beats, which culminated in a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that did not improve despite immunosuppressive and antiarrhythmic therapy. Emergent biventricular assist device placement, however, did eliminate her arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. hraasch@unch.unc.edu
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raasch
authors.forename: Ross J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; D058409:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Giant cells/pathology; heart-assist devices; myocarditis/complications/diagnosis/physiopathology; tachycardia, ventricular/etiology/physiopathology