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(Circulation. 1999;99:1295-1299.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Global Biventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Asymptomatic Coronary Artery Disease May Be Caused by Myocarditis

Andrea Frustaci, MD; Cristina Chimenti, MD; Attilio Maseri, MD

From the Cardiology Institute, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.

Correspondence to Andrea Frustaci, MD, Istituto di Cardiologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy.

Background—The causal role of asymptomatic critical coronary artery obstruction in patients presenting with severe global biventricular dysfunction but no evidence of myocardial infarction is uncertain.

Methods and Results—Among 291 patients aged >40 years undergoing a noninvasive (2-dimensional echocardiography) and invasive (catheterization, coronary angiography, and biventricular endomyocardial biopsy, 6 to 8 samples/patient) cardiac study because of progressive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) with global biventricular dysfunction and no history of myocardial ischemic events, 7 patients (2.4%; 7 men; mean age, 49±6.9 years) had severe coronary artery disease (3 vessels in 4 patients; 2 vessels in 1 patient, proximal occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery in 2 patients). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and ejection fraction by 2-dimensional echocardiography were 73±10.5 mm and 23±6.5%, respectively, and right ventricular end-diastolic diameter and ejection fraction were 39±7 mm and 29±7.2%, respectively. Biopsy specimens showed extensive lymphocytic infiltrates with focal myocytolysis meeting the Dallas criteria for myocarditis in all patients (in 5 patients with and 2 patients without fibrosis). Cardiac autoantibodies were detected with indirect immunofluorescence in the serum of 2 patients with active myocarditis. The 2 patients with active inflammation received prednisone (1 mg · kg^-1 · d^-1 for 4 weeks followed by 0.33 mg · kg^-1 · d^-1 for 5 months) and azathioprine (2 mg · kg^-1 · d^-1 for 5 months) in addition to conventional drug therapy for heart failure. At 8-month overall follow-up, cardiac volume and function improved considerably in immunosuppressed patients but remained unchanged in conventionally treated patients, of whom 1 died.

Conclusions—Global biventricular dysfunction in patients with severe asymptomatic coronary artery disease and no evidence of previous myocardial infarction may be caused by myocarditis. Histologic findings may influence the treatment.

Key Words: myocarditis • coronary disease • heart failure

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