title: Giant cell myocarditis and endomyocardial calcification in a 2.5-month-old infant triggered by excessive maternal alcohol abuse: case study of an unusual association.
abstract: This report describes an unusual case of a 2.5-month-old infant's sudden death secondary to giant cell myocarditis and endomyocardial calcification, both unusual entities in pediatric patients. The mother had a history of excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the postnatal period. No infectious etiologies, hypersensivity, or autoimmune disorders were identified. Therefore, the authors assume that alcohol exposure might be responsible for the inflammatory giant cell process complicated with endomyocardial calcification in susceptible infants. This report is the first to describe the rare form of noninfectious myocarditis complicated with endomyocardial calcification possibly triggered by a toxic agent. The authors discuss the possible interaction between these processes that led to the infant's sudden death.
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Expertises, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, University Hospital, 036 59, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors: Jozef
authors: J
authors: Krajcovic
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Janik
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Adamicova
authors: Lubomír
authors: L
authors: Straka
authors: Frantisek
authors: F
authors: Stuller
authors: Frantisek
authors: F
authors: Novomesky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy