title: Fulminant myocarditis.
abstract: Myocarditis is most often caused by a viral infection. Less common causes include other infectious agents and autoimmune diseases. Fulminant myocarditis is an unusual complication with a rapidly progressive course resulting in severe heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Fulminant myocarditis should be treated with full supportive care, using aggressive pharmacologic therapy and mechanical circulatory support, because significant improvement in left ventricular function will often occur. Cardiac transplantation is required in a small minority of patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is becoming a frequently used modality to aid in the diagnosis of myocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, One Cooper Plaza, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. Ginsberg-Fredric@CooperHealth.edu
authors.forename: Fredric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ginsberg
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Parrillo
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001243:Assisted Circulation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator; Fulminant myocarditis; Immune mechanisms; Inotropic agents; Lymphocytic myocarditis; Mechanical circulatory support; Ventricular assist device