“My father has been diagnosed with myocarditis. What does this mean?”
In a recent cardiac evaluation, my father has been diagnosed with myocarditis. What could this mean?
4 Answers
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, usually caused by a virus. It usually settles down allowing a good recovery but may require a period of rest for a few weeks. Occasionally the heart can be left with a weakened muscle (cardiomyopathy).
May cause heart failure, cardiomyopathy, possibly arrhythmia.
He has inflammation in the heart muscle which could be caused by infectious agents such as virus or bacteria, toxins from the environment, allergy, and when we don’t know why we call it idiopathic.
He should be getting a variety of diagnostic tests including blood and imaging.
The prognosis depends on what is causing it and how extensive.
Therapies rely on the diagnosis.
It could cause the heart muscle and or electrical system to fail, and this should be monitored.
He should be getting a variety of diagnostic tests including blood and imaging.
The prognosis depends on what is causing it and how extensive.
Therapies rely on the diagnosis.
It could cause the heart muscle and or electrical system to fail, and this should be monitored.
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. This is usually self limiting but can be treated depending on the underlying cause of the myocarditis. Myocarditis can be caused by infections viral most commonly or bacterial. Other causes or often autoimmune causes or direct trauma to the heart muscle.
