Myocarditis in an autopsy cohort
Wagner, G.; Gardiol, D.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 119(20): 641-646
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 2740878 Document Number: 345828
In a retrospective study 159 cases (1.8%) of myocarditis--7 pediatric--were found among 8663 consecutive autopsies. In 5 cases the diagnosis had been suspected clinically. In 68 cases (42%) it was possible to determine the etiology: 61 cases of septic myocarditis were found, including 4 mycotic, and 4 cases of toxoplasmosis. In 91 cases (58%) the myocarditis was idiopathic. Idiopathic myocarditis was firmly established as cause of death in 10 cases. In the other cases there appeared to be a relation between the extent of the myocardial infiltrate and probable involvement of the process as cause of death.