title: Fatal recurrence of fulminant giant cell myocarditis and recovery after initialisation of an alternative immunosuppressive regime.
abstract: We report on a challenging case of a 34-year-old male patient with giant cell myocarditis (GCM) and fulminant relapse after discontinuing immunomodulatory therapy 2 years after the initial event. Specific combined immunosuppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), cyclosporine and high-dose glucocorticoids combined with guideline-based heart failure medication led to the recovery of GCM, improvement of systolic left ventricular function and clinical remission. This case report emphasises the importance of an immunosuppressive therapy for the prognosis and outcome and the risk of discontinuation. Most importantly, ATG seems to be one new possible potential treatment option for patients with acute GCM.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Heart Center, Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fluschnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Charité Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Felicitas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escher
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Heart Center, Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blankenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Heart Center, Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westermann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents