Successful treatment of severe heart failure caused by idiopathic giant cell myocarditis
Desjardins, V.; Pelletier, G.; Leung, T.K.; Waters, D.
Canadian Journal of Cardiology 8(8): 788-792
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0828-282X PMID: 1422999 Document Number: 397142
A 53-year-old woman presented with increasing dyspnea over one month and signs of severe heart failure. A right ventricular biopsy revealed giant cell myocarditis. She was treated with a combination of cyclosporine, imuran and prednisone and improved dramatically--left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 13 to 66%. That such a response is possible has important implications with respect to both the etiology and treatment of this rare disorder.