Skip Navigation

Cardiovascular Research 2003 60(1):5-10; doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(03)00437-1
© 2003 by European Society of Cardiology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mason, J. W
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mason, J. W
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Copyright © 2003, European Society of Cardiology

Myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy

An inflammatory link

Jay W Mason*

Department of Internal Medicine, J527 Kentucky Clinic 0284, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

*Tel.: +1-859-257-5116; fax: +1-859-257-8364. Email address: jmason12{at}charter.net

Myocarditis is a complex disease because multiple pathogenetic mechanisms play a role. While these mechanisms appear to act in a chronological cascade, they undoubtedly overlap in some cases, rendering diagnosis and treatment difficult. Ultimately, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) may result. A multitude of still-circumstantial evidence points to a major role of viral myocarditis in the etiology of DCM. The common presence of viral genetic material and viral proteins in the myocardium of patients with DCM provides the most compelling evidence, but proof of causality is still lacking. Nevertheless, because of the striking increase in heart failure prevalence in recent years, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory therapies should be developed for their potential to prevent or ameliorate DCM.

KEYWORDS Myocarditis; Dilated cardiomyopathy; Autoimmunity; Heart failure; Immunosuppression

Time for primary review 21 days.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
G. Szalay, M. Sauter, M. Haberland, U. Zuegel, A. Steinmeyer, R. Kandolf, and K. Klingel
Osteopontin: A Fibrosis-Related Marker Molecule in Cardiac Remodeling of Enterovirus Myocarditis in the Susceptible Host
Circ. Res., April 10, 2009; 104(7): 851 - 859.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J Heart FailHome page
S. Heymans, E. Hirsch, S. D. Anker, P. Aukrust, J.-L. Balligand, J. W. Cohen-Tervaert, H. Drexler, G. Filippatos, S. B. Felix, L. Gullestad, et al.
Inflammation as a therapeutic target in heart failure? A scientific statement from the Translational Research Committee of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology
Eur J Heart Fail, February 1, 2009; 11(2): 119 - 129.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur Heart JHome page
R. Dennert, H. J. Crijns, and S. Heymans
Acute viral myocarditis
Eur. Heart J., September 1, 2008; 29(17): 2073 - 2082.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CirculationHome page
I. Kindermann, M. Kindermann, R. Kandolf, K. Klingel, B. Bultmann, T. Muller, A. Lindinger, and M. Bohm
Predictors of Outcome in Patients With Suspected Myocarditis
Circulation, August 5, 2008; 118(6): 639 - 648.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
M A Weber, M T Ashworth, R A Risdon, M Malone, M Burch, and N J Sebire
Clinicopathological features of paediatric deaths due to myocarditis: an autopsy series
Arch. Dis. Child., July 1, 2008; 93(7): 594 - 598.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.