Myocarditis

Overview

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest referral practices for myocarditis in North America. International patients as well as patients from throughout the United States are routinely seen at Mayo Clinic.

Because of this extensive experience, Mayo Clinic specialists have unparalleled expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of myocarditis. In particular, the current treatments of giant cell myocarditis, cardiac sarcoidosis and eosinophilic myocarditis were pioneered at Mayo Clinic. In addition, the diagnosis, early management and long-term follow-up in the Mayo Clinic multidisciplinary model of care is unique. Mayo Clinic physicians develop close collaboration with each patient's home physicians to facilitate ongoing care and follow-up.

Currently, Mayo Clinic researchers have two grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and one Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grant to study clinical myocarditis. In addition, a number of basic science projects are studying myocarditis at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic's clinical laboratory and pathologic laboratory work closely with clinical physicians to develop new tests and techniques to diagnose and follow patients with myocarditis. Read more about myocarditis research at Mayo Clinic.

Diagnosis

Myocarditis can be difficult to diagnose because it resembles many other diseases. A physician may suspect myocarditis if a patient's symptoms have appeared within six weeks of an infection. It is important for patients to provide a complete medical history during the physical examination. While conducting the physical examination, physicians pay special attention to the heart, listening for a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) or abnormal heartbeats, abnormal heart sounds (murmurs, extra sounds) and fluid in the lungs. At Mayo Clinic, diagnosis of myocarditis involves a complete physical examination and several tests to evaluate the heart's function. Read more about myocarditis diagnosis.

Treatment Options

Treatment of myocarditis depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Patients with mild viral myocarditis can usually rest at home. A patient whose myocarditis is more severe and produces heart failure or cardiac arrhythmias needs to be treated and monitored in a hospital. Treatment of myocarditis involves treating the underlying cause and any abnormalities caused by the inflammation, and reducing the heart's workload. Read more about myocarditis treatment options.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota
• Treatment of Children & Adolescents

About Myocarditis

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium, the thick muscular layer making up the major portion of your heart. The condition can result in vague chest pain, an abnormal heartbeat, congestive heart failure and other signs and symptoms.

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