title: Giant cell myocarditis associated with amoxicillin hypersensitivity reaction.
abstract: We report a case of sudden unexpected death in an adult woman from florid myocarditis with necrosis, replacement fibrosis, and diffuse infiltration of the myocardium by eosinophils and conspicuous giant cells. Clinical history revealed that 3 weeks prior to death, shortly after commencing antibiotic therapy for the treatment of traumatic wound of a finger, she presented to the emergency room with a hypersensitivity reaction characterized by facial rash with edema and generalized pruritus. She was treated with antihistamines and discharged. The clinico-pathological correlation suggests a link between drug hypersensitivity and the giant cell myocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Medico Legal, Av. La Paz 1012, Independencia, Santiago, Chile. soledadml@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pollanen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D000658:Amoxicillin