Idiopathic giant cell myocarditis
Encyclopedia
Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis is a cardiovascular disease.
It is rare; however, it is often fatal and there is no proven cure because of the unknown nature of the disorder.
IGCM frequently leads to death with high rate about 70% in first year. Patient typically presents with symptoms or heart failure although some may present initially with ventricular arrhythmia or heart block. Median age from the time the disease is diagnosed to the time of death is approximately 6 months. 90% of patient are either dead by the end of 1 year or have received a heart transplant. Diagnosis is made by endomyocardial biopsy during heart catheterization. Biopsy shows multinucleate giant cells and thus the name. There is no treatment except for heart transplantation. The transplanted heart has a high chance of disease recurrence in the transplanted heart. Compared to lymphocytic (presumed viral) myocarditis, giant cell myocarditis is much more severe with much more rapid progression.
It is suggested to be caused by T-lymphocytes
.
It is rare; however, it is often fatal and there is no proven cure because of the unknown nature of the disorder.
IGCM frequently leads to death with high rate about 70% in first year. Patient typically presents with symptoms or heart failure although some may present initially with ventricular arrhythmia or heart block. Median age from the time the disease is diagnosed to the time of death is approximately 6 months. 90% of patient are either dead by the end of 1 year or have received a heart transplant. Diagnosis is made by endomyocardial biopsy during heart catheterization. Biopsy shows multinucleate giant cells and thus the name. There is no treatment except for heart transplantation. The transplanted heart has a high chance of disease recurrence in the transplanted heart. Compared to lymphocytic (presumed viral) myocarditis, giant cell myocarditis is much more severe with much more rapid progression.
It is suggested to be caused by T-lymphocytes
T cell
T cells or T lymphocytes belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, and play a central role in cell-mediated immunity. They can be distinguished from other lymphocytes, such as B cells and natural killer cells , by the presence of a T cell receptor on the cell surface. They are...
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