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By Mayo Clinic staffWhen myocarditis is severe, it can permanently damage your heart muscle. As its pumping action weakens, strain is put on your heart, causing heart failure. Your heart becomes unable to pump efficiently enough to supply your body with the oxygen-rich blood it needs. A failing heart can also cause blood clots to form, leading to a stroke or heart attack.
People with myocarditis may develop heart arrhythmias, which, in severe cases, can cause sudden death. In very severe cases, myocarditis-related heart failure requires a heart transplant.