Giant-cell myocarditis complicated by heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Abstract

Giant-cell myocarditis is a fatal autoimmune disorder that is often associated with other autoimmune diseases. We herein describe a case of giant-cell myocarditis complicated by heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to palpitations and ptosis. Echocardiography revealed hypokinesis in the left basal ventricular walls. Heart failure gradually developed, and the condition was complicated by HIT. The patient died of cardiogenic and septic shock caused by agranulocytosis. An autopsy showed giant-cell myocarditis. When severe left ventricular dysfunction due to an unknown cause is complicated by HIT, potential diagnoses of giant-cell and other types of autoimmune myocarditis should thus be investigated.

• Authors: Junji Morita, Naoki Oka, Kazushige Kadota, Tsuyoshi Goto, Satoki Fujii, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Harumi Katoh, Yasushi Fuku, Akitoshi Hirono, Takeshi Maruo, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Seiji Habara, Tahei Ichinohe, Kenji Notohara, Kazuaki Mitsudo
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 51 Issue 22 Pg. 3139-43 ( 2012) ISSN: 1349-7235 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 23154720 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Heparin

Topics

• Aged
• Autoimmune Diseases (complications, diagnosis, immunology)
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Giant Cells (pathology)
• Heparin (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Myocarditis (complications, diagnosis, immunology)
• Thrombocytopenia (chemically induced, complications)