Myocarditis

Extract

• Myocarditis must be differentiated from an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction requiring immediate treatment and, on the other hand, from harmless ECG changes caused by increased sympathicotonia.
• The diagnosis of myocarditis is based on the clinical picture, ECG and laboratory findings and ruling out of other reasons. In unclear cases and severe forms of the disease, cardiac imaging with MRI and taking a tissue sample (myocardial biopsy) may be needed.
• Emergency assessment in specialized care is required if the patient has severe pains, tachycardias or loss of consciousness, bi- or trifascicular block, heart failure or signs of myocardial damage (TnT, TnI).
• Symptomless patients as well as patients with only mild symptoms may be monitored on an outpatient basis.

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Adrenergic beta-Antagonists, Atenolol, B33.2, Cardiology, Echocardiography, Electrocardiography, I01.2, I09.0, I40*, I41*, I51.4, Internal medicine, Metoprolol, Myocardium, Pericarditis, ST-segment elevation, T inversion, T wave, T-wave change, heart enzymes, myocarditis, perimyocarditis, sympathicotonia