Clinical experiences of 10 serious type of acute virus myocarditis

Objective To analysis the clinical characteristics of the serious type of acute virus myocarditis and summarize the clinical experiences.Methods Ten patients hospitalized with serious type of acute virus myocarditis during November 1999 to April 2003 were included,male in 5,female in 5,aged from 18 to 47 years old (mean of 36±10.7 years old),with the duration hospitalized from 12 to 22 days (mean of 17.5±3.2 days).All the patients included were confirmed with criteria of acute virus myocarditis made in 1999.Results Cardiac (systolic and diastolic) function examined by echocardiogram decreased and serum enzyme increased for a lone time in all the patients.The atrioventricular conduction system was involved and atrioventricular block or ventricular conduction delay (one or two bundle branch block) was found by electrocardiogram in all patients.Temporary pace makers were implanted in all patients and permanent pace makers were required in two of them.The electrocardiograms are similar to the graph of acute myocardial infarction in 4 patients with coronary arteriongraphy normal.The major complications include severe heart failure (2 cases),pericarditis (1 case) and encephalitis (1 case).Conclusions The clinical condition of serious type of acute virus myocarditis was critical and with rapid progression.The diagnosis based on the typical clinical characteristics and the manifestations of myocardium lesions.High dosage corticoid and emergency hemodynamic support can improve the heart function and prognosis.