title: Eosinophilic myocarditis: two case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare and often under-diagnosed subtype of myocarditis with only around 30 cases published in the medical literature. In this article we present two patients with eosinophilic myocarditis with the aim to demonstrate the often elusive nature of the disease and present the current scientific literature on this topic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 76 years old Caucasian gentleman and a 36 years old Aboriginal gentleman both presenting with heart failure symptoms were eventually diagnosed with eosinophilic myocarditis after extensive evaluation. Their presentation, assessment, and medical management is explored in this article.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eosinophilic myocarditis remains a rare and likely under-diagnosed subtype of myocarditis. The key features of this disease include myocardial injury in the setting of non-contributory coronary artery disease. Endomyocardial biopsy remains the definitive gold standard for diagnosis of noninfectious eosinophilic myocarditis. Non-invasive cardiac imaging in the setting of peripheral eosinophilia can be strongly suggestive of eosinophilic myocarditis with potential for earlier diagnosis. Failure to diagnose eosinophilic myocarditis and the delay of therapy may lead to irreversible myocardial injury. Therapies for this disease have yet to be validated in large prospective studies.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rizkallah
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desautels
authors.forename: Amrit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zieroth
authors.forename: Davinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jassal
authors.forename: Farrukh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, St Boniface Hospital and University of Manitoba, Y3005-409 tahé avenue, R2H 2A6, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. fcordova@sbgh.mb.ca.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cordova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*