Autoimmune myocarditis
Evidence: Unconfirmed
Names
Myocarditis
Autoimmune cardiomyopathy
Coxsackie myocarditis
Description
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart wall. Myocarditis can affect both the heart's muscle cells and the heart's electrical system, leading to problems with the heart's pumping function and irregular heart rhythms. Myocarditis can also be caused by viral infections or systemic inflammatory conditions such as additional autoimmune disorders. In severe cases of myocarditis, the heart muscle weakens and cannot pump blood effectively to other parts of your body. There are 3 types of myocarditis: acute, chronic, and lymphocytic.
Patient Groups
Bloggers
N/A
Prevalence
US Cases: 68,000 - 83,000 [Lancet 2018]
Notes:
1. Lack of sensitivity in diagnostic tools may have caused an underestimation of its true prevalence.
2. The prevalence of myocarditis is up to 42% in cases of unexplained deaths in people aged 35 or younger
Typical Age of onset
Childhood - Age 3
Adult - 35
Symptoms
Easy or excessive bruising (purpura)
Rash - pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae) usually on the lower legs
Bleeding from the gums or noseBlood in urine or stools
Unusually heavy menstrual flow
Chest Pain
Fatigue
Headache
Shortness of breath
Leg swelling
Sources: Mayo Clinic, Healthline
References
Healthline
Hopkins Medicine
Mayo Clinic
Medscape
NIH - Rare Disease
May 2024 Update by Lauren Young