Myocarditis (MSM) is a disease that damages the heart through an inflammatory process. Unfortunately, the symptoms of myocarditis are not typical and therefore a quick diagnosis cannot be made. A late start of treatment reduces the patient's prognosis and may even lead to his death. What are the causes and symptoms of myocarditis? What is the treatment of this disease?

Myocarditis(MSM) is a disease in which inflammation affects the cells of the heart muscle, the interstitial tissue, and the vessels of the heart. MSM can lead to inflammatory cardiomyopathy, and hence - to myocardial and circulatory failure, and consequently to death.

Myocarditis (MSM) - causes

The causes of myocarditisare infections:

  • bacterial that may come from e.g. untreated teeth (e.g. staphylococci, streptococci, chlamydia, tuberculosis, pneumococci, Borrelia burgdorferi)
  • fungal (e.g. Aspergillus, Candida) - fungi usually cause disease in people with weakened immune systems;
  • caused by protozoa (e.g. toxoplasmosis, Chagas disease)
  • parasitic (e.g. human roundworm, echinococcal tapeworm)

However, the most common culprit of this disease is a virus (50% of cases), especially enterovirusCoxsackieB (the disease caused by it is severe), less often - rubella, chickenpox and herpes zoster or HCV. The flu virus can also be the cause of MSM.

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Non-infectiousmyocarditismay occur in the course of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, connective tissue diseases, sarcoidosis. Autoimmune diseases are the most common causes of the chronic form of MS.

Other non-infectious causes of myocarditis are:

  • drugs (penicillin, anti-tuberculosis, anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics and many others)
  • drugs (most often cocaine)
  • heavy metals (e.g. lead)
  • radiation (e.g. after irradiation of the mediastinum)

Myocarditis -symptoms

  • shortness of breath (initially only after exercise)
  • chest pain - located behind the breastbone, radiating to the neck, left shoulder and back. Usually it intensifies, among others when coughing and lying on your back. It is a relief to sit and lean forward
  • palpitations
  • tachycardia (heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute)
  • fatigue, weakness
  • swollen ankles and lower legs

The accompanying symptoms are those related to the ongoing inflammation in the body:

  • headache
  • muscle and joint pain
  • fever
  • sore throat

Myocarditis (MSM) - types

Depending on the nature of the course of the disease, the following are listed:

  • fulminant ZMS- with a sudden onset, rapid increase in symptoms of circulatory failure, up to cardiogenic shock
  • acute ZMS- with a less pronounced onset, less bothersome symptoms that disappear after a few weeks or months. In some patients, acute MSD leads to dilated cardiomyopathy
  • subacute or chronic MSS- it is difficult to tell when the disease started and what is its cause. This type of MSM is known to lead to advanced heart failure

Myocarditis - diagnosis

In order to diagnose the disease:

  • blood tests - accelerated fall of blood cells, leukocytosis
  • electrocardiogram (EKG) - signs of myocardial damage, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias are visible)
  • Chest X-ray - the silhouette of the heart can be enlarged
  • echocardiogram - impaired contractility of the heart muscle and thickening of the walls due to edema
  • magnetic resonance imaging
  • myocardial biopsy, i.e. taking a sample of the heart muscle for laboratory tests. Usually there is necrosis of muscle cells with an inflammatory infiltrate; The indication for the examination is, inter alia, fulminant disease
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Myocarditis - treatment

If the disease is not caused by a virus, causal treatment is possible (e.g. antibiotics, antiparasitic drugs).

However, the mainstay of therapy is symptomatic treatment, which consists in a sparing lifestyle (bed rest), prevention of thromboembolic complications and treatment of complications (circulatory failure, arrhythmias).

IfZMSappears in the course of the above-mentioned diseases, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease. Treatment failure and development of severe failurehearts are indications for a heart transplant.

Read also:

  • What are the types of heart and circulatory system diseases?
  • Left ventricular enlargement
  • Palpitations: causes, symptoms, treatment
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Malignant and benign heart tumors
  • Broken Heart Syndrome
  • Heart Block

Category:

Cardiology