Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Myocarditis can be asymptomatic in some patients, with the infection resolving spontaneously.

However, acute myocarditis can present with early general symptoms such as fever, fatigue, malaise, myalgia, pharyngitis, dyspnea, lymphadenopathy, nausea, and vomiting.

Next, early cardiac signs may include pleuritic chest pain, pericardial friction rub, and pericardial effusion.

Diagnosing myocarditis involves a detailed medical history, including recent viral infections, travel history, and any history of autoimmune diseases.

Physical examination focuses on signs of arrhythmias, crackles, jugular venous distention, syncope, and peripheral edema.

Laboratory tests often show mild leukocytosis, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and elevated C-reactive protein levels.

Elevated cardiac biomarkers, such as troponin, may also be present.

ECG findings typically show diffuse ST-segment changes and T-wave inversions.

Endomyocardial biopsy confirms myocarditis histologically, showing lymphocytic infiltration and myocyte damage.