An unusual case of giant cell myocarditis missed in a Heartmate-2 left ventricle apical-wedge section: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Herein we present a case of fulminant myocarditis in a woman previously treated for B-cell lymphoma. While the clinical context was suggestive of adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy, the initial pathology of the Heartmate-2 apical core showed lymphocytic myocarditis. After 8 months of stability, the patient presented with progressive heart failure and recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. An endomyocardial biopsy revealed findings typical of giant cell myocarditis (GCM); poor response to immunosuppressive therapy and marked hemodynamic instability led to urgent transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of GCM following an acute lymphocytic myocarditis and the second GCM case associated with B-cell lymphoma.

• Authors: Kim Anderson, Michel Carrier, Philippe Romeo, Guy B Pelletier, Mark Liszkowski, Normand Racine, Michel White, Anique Ducharme
• Journal: Journal of cardiothoracic surgery (J Cardiothorac Surg) Vol. 8 Pg. 12 (Jan 17 2013) ISSN: 1749-8090 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23324434 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Giant Cells (pathology)
• Heart Transplantation
• Heart Ventricles (cytology, pathology)
• Heart-Assist Devices
• Humans
• Lymphoma, B-Cell (drug therapy, pathology)
• Myocarditis (pathology, surgery)