Myocarditis

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

When myocarditis is severe, it can permanently damage your heart muscle. This damage may cause:

  • Heart failure
  • Blood clots
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
  • Sudden death

In very severe cases, myocarditis-related heart failure requires an artificial heart or heart transplant.

References
  1. Allan CK, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of myocarditis in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 15, 2010.
  2. Cooper LT. Myocarditis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:1526.
  3. Cooper LT. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of myocarditis in adults, http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 15, 2010.
  4. Schultz JC, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of viral myocarditis. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2009;84:1001.
  5. Bashore TM, et al. Heart disease. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2010. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3671. Accessed Jan. 16, 2010.
  6. O'Connell JB, et al. Myocarditis. In: Crawford MH. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Cardiology. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3647982. Accessed Jan. 16, 2010.
  7. Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 25, 2010.
DS00521 March 16, 2010

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