Coexistence of Rhabdomyolysis, Myocarditis and Arrhythmia after Spider Bite: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyolysis after spider bite has been reported in a small number of patients, and myocarditis in even fewer. However, arrhythmia associated with latrodectism in children has not been described in the literature to date. CASE SUMMARY: A girl presented approximately 4.5 h after being bitten on the left ankle by a black spider. Two unifocal premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) were observed on the electrocardiogram. In laboratory tests, creatine kinase was elevated. On day 2, levels of troponin, pro-brain and natriuretic peptide were elevated. Electrocardiogram revealed inverted and biphasic T waves. Echocardiography revealed mild left ventricular dilation, mitral and aortic valve regurgitation. Holter electrocardiogram showed PVCs. Her laboratory and echocardiography findings completely normalized after discharge, and no arrhythmia was observed on the Holter electrocardiogram during outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although spider bites are uncommon, they can cause serious systemic effects. These patients should be evaluated for arrhythmia, rhabdomyolysis and myocarditis.

Rarely, spider bites can cause serious systemic effects, severe morbidity and death. In a small number of patients, spider envenomation causes rhabdomyolysis and myocarditis. In the present case, the elevated troponin and pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels and electrocardiogram/echocardiography findings were consistent with myocarditis, and an increase in creatinine kinase level indicated rhabdomyolysis. In addition, the electrocardiogram and Holter electrocardiogram revealed unifocal premature ventricular contraction. To our knowledge, arrhythmia due to Latrodectus spider bite has not been described in children to date. In addition, this case demonstrates the coexistence of two serious systemic effects, rhabdomyolysis and myocarditis, with full recovery after appropriate treatment.

Risk of myopericarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in a large integrated health system: A comparison of completeness and timeliness of two methods.

PURPOSE: How completely do hospital discharge diagnoses identify cases of myopericarditis after an mRNA vaccine? METHODS: We assembled a cohort 12-39 year-old patients, insured by Kaiser Permanente Northwest, who received at least one dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) between December 2020 and October 2021. We followed them for up to 30 days after their second dose of an mRNA vaccine to identify encounters for myocarditis, pericarditis or myopericarditis. We compared two identification methods: A method that searched all encounter diagnoses using a brief text description (e.g., ICD-10-CM code I40.9 is defined as 'acute myocarditis, unspecified'). We searched the text description of all inpatient or outpatient encounter diagnoses (in any position) for "myocarditis" or "pericarditis." The other method was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), which searched for emergency department visits or hospitalizations with a select set of discharge ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. For both methods, two physicians independently reviewed the identified patient records and classified them as confirmed, probable or not cases using the CDC's case definition. RESULTS: The encounter methodology identified 14 distinct patients who met the confirmed or probable CDC case definition for acute myocarditis or pericarditis with an onset within 21 days of receipt of COVID-19 vaccination. When we extended the search for relevant diagnoses to 30 days since vaccination, we identified two additional patients (for a total of 16 patients) who met the case definition for acute myocarditis or pericarditis, but those patients had been misdiagnosed at the time of their original presentation. Three of these patients had an ICD-10-CM code of I51.4 "Myocarditis, Unspecified;" that code was omitted by the VSD algorithm (in the late fall of 2021). The VSD methodology identified 11 patients who met the CDC case definition for acute myocarditis or pericarditis. Seven (64%) of the 11 patients had initial care for myopericarditis outside of a KPNW facility and their diagnosis could not be ascertained by the VSD methodology until claims were submitted (median delay of 33 days; range of 12-195 days). Among those who received a second dose of vaccine (n = 146 785), we estimated a risk as 95.4 cases of myopericarditis per million second doses administered (95% CI, 52.1-160.0). CONCLUSION: We identified additional valid cases of myopericarditis following an mRNA vaccination that would be missed by the VSD's search algorithm, which depends on select hospital discharge diagnosis codes. The true incidence of myopericarditis is markedly higher than the incidence reported to US advisory committees in the fall of 2021. The VSD should validate its search algorithm to improve its sensitivity for myopericarditis.

Potential forensic implications of kerokan therapy - a traditional Indonesian therapy associated with neck bruising.

Kerokan is a traditional Indonesian treatment involving abrading the skin over various parts of the body with a blunt object such as a coin or a piece of ginger which may create suspicious injuries. Here, the case of a 30-year-old woman who had undergone kerokan therapy is reported. She was complaining of retro-sternal pain and epigastric discomfort and subsequently became markedly short of breath and died. The observation of injuries predominantly located around the neck initiated a police investigation and forensic autopsy. Scattered abrasions, blisters and bruises were present on the forehead, the bridge of the nose extending to the ala, the upper and anterior aspect of the chin and the sternal notch, with discrete fresh and scabbed abrasions around the neck, over the sternum and on the backs of both hands. There were, however, no facial or conjunctival petechiae and no bruising of the underlying strap muscles, or fractures of the hyoid bone or thyroid cartilage. Histology revealed that myocarditis was the cause of death. Traditional practices may cause unusual bruises, abrasions, blisters and burns that may raise suspicion of inflicted injury from an assault. Knowledge of the manifestations of socio-ethnic practices such as kerokan is important in the evaluation of trauma in specific cultural groups.

Acute Myocarditis in Children: An Overview of Treatment and Recent Patents.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric myocarditis is rare but challenging. This overview summarized the current knowledge and recent patents on childhood myocarditis. METHODS: Clinical queries and keywords of "myocarditis" and "childhood" were used as search engine. RESULTS: Viral infections are the most common causes of acute myocarditis. Affected children often have a prodrome of fever, malaise, and myalgia. Clinical manifestations of acute myocarditis in children can be nonspecific. Some children may present with easy fatigability, poor appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, exercise intolerance, respiratory distress/tachypnea, dyspnea at rest, orthopnea, chronic cough with wheezing, chest pain, unexplained tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, and hepatomegaly. Supraventricular arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, and heart block may be present. A subset of patients have fulminant myocarditis and present with cardiovascular collapse, which may progress to severe cardiogenic shock, and even death. A high index of suspicion is crucial to its diagnosis and timely management. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is important in aiding clinical diagnosis while, endomyocardial biopsy remains the gold standard. The treatment consists of supportive therapy, ranging from supplemental oxygen and fluid restriction to mechanical circulatory support. Angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors, angio-tensin II receptor blockers, ß-blockers, and aldosterone antagonists might be used for the treatment of heart failure while, immunosuppression treatments remain controversial. There are a few recent patents targeting prevention or treatment of viral myocarditis, including an immunogenic composition comprising a PCV-2 antigen, glutathione-S-transferase P1, neuregulins, NF-[kappa] B inhibitor, a pharmaceutical composition which contains 2-amino-2- (2- (4-octyl phenyl) - ethyl) propane 1,3-diol, a composition containing pycnojenol, Chinese herbal concoctions, and a Korean oral rapamycin. Evidence of their efficacy is still lacking. CONCLUSION: This article reviews the current literature regarding etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of acute myocarditis in children.

Carditis in Acute Rheumatic Fever in a High-Income and Moderate-Risk Country.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical presentation, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic characteristics of carditis at the time of diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) over a 13-year period. STUDY DESIGN: A single-center retrospective chart analysis was conducted involving all consecutive patients diagnosed with ARF between 2003 and 2015. Patient age, sex, clinical characteristics, recent medical history for group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis and antibiotic treatment, and laboratory, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic findings were recorded. RESULTS: Of 98 patients (62 boys, mean age 8.81 ± 3.04 years), 59 (60.2%) reported a positive history of pharyngotonsillitis; 48 (49%) had received antibiotic (mean duration of treatment of 5.9 ± 3.1 days), and, among these, 28 (58.3%) had carditis. Carditis was the second most frequent finding, subclinical in 27% of patients. Mitral regurgitation was present in 49 of 56 patients (87.5%) and aortic regurgitation in 36/56 (64.3%) no stenosis was documented. CONCLUSIONS: ARF is still present in high-income countries and can develop despite primary prophylaxis, especially when given for a short course. Our findings highlight the need for 10 days of antistreptococcal treatment to prevent ARF. Echocardiography is important because 27% of cases with carditis were subclinical.

Dramatic and early response to low-dose steroid in the treatment of acute eosinophilic myocarditis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic myocarditis encompasses a variety of etiologies and the prognosis varies. For patients with a hypersensitive response to medications, high-dose corticosteroids and discontinuation of culprit medications are the main treatments. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a young man with biopsy-proven eosinophilic myocarditis which was possibly induced by Chinese herbal medicine. His heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy improved soon after low-dose corticosteroid. CONCLUSION: Low-dose corticosteroid may be effective in selected patients with eosinophilic myocarditis. Early echocardiographic follow-up is mandatory for evaluation of the clinical response.

Epsilon wave on an electronic loop in a case of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia with myocarditis: an updated definition of the Epsilon wave.

A young man presented with a history of myocarditis with palpitations and dizziness. He had implantation of a loop recorder that showed repetitive short episodes of VT. In addition, there were fragmented potentials immediately following the large and sharp electrograms (EGMs) before as well as after episodes of VT suggesting an Epsilon wave. This signal can be observed in multiple cardiac conditions including coronary artery disease. It was originally recorded on the epicardium as well as on the endocardium. However, in ARVD it can be defined as an electric signal observed after the end of the QRS complex in the right as opposed to the left precordial leads (difference ≥ 25 ms). It can also be an aid to the diagnosis of patients with ARVD who have other signs or symptoms suggesting ARVD including episodes of myocarditis. This potential consists of a slurring at the end of the QRS complex or an independent potential after the return to the isoelectric line. It can be better observed by increasing amplification of the ECG tracing as well as double speed using the Fontaine lead system. Epsilon wave too small to be recorded on the standard ECG can be extracted by Signal Averaging ECG SAECG).

Emerging pharmacologic targets and treatments for myocarditis.

Myocarditis is a heterogeneous group of disorders defined by inflammation of the heart muscle. The primary clinical manifestations of myocarditis are heart failure and sudden death in children and young adults. Numerous interventions have been investigated for the treatment of myocarditis, including broad spectrum alteration of the immune response and antiviral treatments; however, success has been limited. Since the myocarditis treatment trials in the 1990s there has been an improved understanding of disease progression and new facets of the immune response have been discovered. This new information provides fresh opportunities to develop therapeutics to treat myocarditis. This review analyzes previous pharmacologic approaches including immunosuppression, high dose intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, immunoadsorption and antiviral treatments, and looks forward toward recently identified immune factors that can be exploited as targets for new treatments. Such strategies include bolstering beneficial regulatory T cells or mitigating the detrimental Th17 T cells which can drive autoimmunity in the heart. The surging interest of the application of humanized monoclonal antibodies makes targeting deleterious arms of the immune response like Th17 cells a tangible goal in the near future. Promising constituents of herbal remedies have also been identified that may hold potential as new pharmacological treatments for myocarditis, however, significant work remains to elucidate the pharmacokinetics and side-effects of these compounds. Finally, advances in our understanding of the function of Matrix Metalloproteinases yield another target for altering disease progression given their role in the development of fibrosis during Dilated Cardiomyopathy. In bringing to light the various new targets and treatments available since the last myocarditis treatment trials, the aim of this review is to explore the new treatments that are possible in new myocarditis treatment trials.

Cardiac arrhythmias as the initial manifestation of adult primary Sjögren's syndrome: a case report and literature review.

Two middle-aged female patients presenting with heart palpitation and electrocardiogram revealed complex cardiac arrhythmias. A review of systems was positive for dry mouth and transient arthralgia, while laboratory and instrumental tests enabled us to make the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Cardiac electrophysiology revealed atrioventricular node dysfunction and impaired intraventricular conduction. Prednisone therapy induced a significant improvement in symptoms and electrocardiographic readings. The diagnosis of pSS should be considered in a patient presenting with complex cardiac arrhythmias.

Feasibility of combined unipolar and bipolar voltage maps to improve sensitivity of endomyocardial biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) has a low sensitivity. Electroanatomic voltage mapping (EVM) is effective in guiding EMB thanks to its ability in identifying and locating low-voltage regions. The analysis of unipolar EVM can correlate with epicardial pathological involvement. We evaluated the unipolar EVM in EMB areas to determine whether it can increase EMB sensitivity in diagnosing epicardial diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed endocardial bipolar EVM-guided EMBs in 29 patients and we analyzed unipolar EVM at withdrawal sites. Eighty myocardial samples were collected (mean, 2.8±0.9; median, 3 fragments per patient) and 60 were suitable for histological analysis. Ten specimens (17%) were collected from an area with discordant normal bipolar/low-voltage unipolar EVM and they were diagnostic or suggestive for arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy in 6 patients, for myocarditis and sarcoidosis in 1 patient each. Six samples (10%) were collected from an area with discordant low-voltage bipolar/normal unipolar EVM and they showed nonspecific features. The sensitivity of unipolar EVMs for a diagnostic biopsy finding EMB was significantly higher compared with bipolar EVMs analyzed according to samples (P<0.01) and patients (P=0.008). The specificity of unipolar EMB was better than bipolar EMB when analyzed for all samples (P=0.0014) but the difference did not reach statistical significance when analyzed by patient (P=0.083). The diagnostic yield was 63.3% for the bipolar and 83.3% for the unipolar EVM. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that use of a combined bipolar/unipolar map may be able to improve the diagnostic yield of endomyocardial ventricular biopsy.

Postmyocarditis ventricular tachycardia in patients with epicardial-only scar: a specific entity requiring a specific approach.

BACKGROUND: Nonischemic cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous condition providing a favorable substrate for ventricular tachycardia (VT). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to further characterize the substrate in a subset of postmyocarditis patients with epicardial-only scar. METHODS: Twelve postmyocarditis patients (11 male, 49 ± 14 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 49 ± 12%) with VT and epicardial-only scar were included for analysis comparing automatic high-amplitude normal activity (HANA) maps to manually adjusted maps of based on local abnormal ventricular activity (LAVA) electrograms when present. A combined endocardial (endo) and epicardial (epi) approach was used in 11/12 with usual bipolar/unipolar voltage thresholds and analyzed using image integration. RESULTS: A delayed enhancement MRI scar area of 52 cm(2) (38, 59) and multidetector CT wall thinning area of 18 cm(2) (14, 35) was found. Bipolar voltage substrate mapping (160 points [101, 239] endo, 553 points [232, 713] epi and LAVA were found only epicardially [443 LAVA points] in all) illustrated a low-voltage area of HANA: 1 cm(2) (0, 10) endo, 25 cm(2) (22, 39) epi and LAVA: 1 cm(2) (0, 10) endo, 39 cm(2) (28, 51) epi. Manual maps performed better than automatic maps for delineating low-voltage area with a higher overlap with scar area on delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI; 76% [66, 94] vs. 45% [35, 62]; P = 0.04). In addition, manual voltage maps also showed a higher overlap with location of LAVA (LAVA in normal voltage area: 3% [0, 9] vs. 35% [32, 41]; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In postmyocarditis patients with epicardial-only scar, automatic voltage mapping may miss or minimize the electrical VT substrate. DE-MRI and manual LAVA-based voltage mapping are necessary to optimize scar delineation. Epicardial access is critical for mapping and ablation in this condition.

Protective effects of Wusen Erlian granules in experimental model of viral myocarditis.

We wished to study the protective effects of Wusen Erlian granules, a therapy from traditional Chinese medicine, in experimental viral myocarditis (VMC). Sixty mice were divided into six groups: control group, infection group, ribavirin group, and three Wusen Erlian groups, treated with low, intermediate, or high doses (4, 12, or 20 mg/kg) of Wusen Erlian. Control animals were intraperitoneally injected with culture medium, while animals in other groups received intraperinoneal injections of CoxB3 virus. The Wusen Erlian granules were intragastrically administered on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 after virus inoculation. The experiment was terminated 2 h after the final drug administration. The mice were weighed, and specimens were collected for detection of myocardial enzymes, measurement of organ index, and natural killer (NK) cell activity. The levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme, troponin, and myoglobin were significantly increased in infected animals (all p < 0.05). Compared with infection group, the levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme and troponin were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in animals that received ribavirin, and in animals that received high or intermediate dose of Wusen Erlian. Furthermore, the spleen and thymus indexes were increased in animals treated with ribavirin, or high/intermediate doses of Wusen Erlian, suggesting immunoregulating functions of these drugs. The NK cell activity was also markedly increased in the above three groups. Wusen Erlian alleviates the CoxB3-induced myocardial injury and exhibits immunoregulating features, leading to protective effects toward myocardial cells in experimental VMC.

Acute necrotizing eosinophilic myocarditis in a patient taking Garcinia cambogia extract successfully treated with high-dose corticosteroids.

A previously healthy 48-year-old woman was evaluated for lightheadedness and chest heaviness 2 weeks after starting the herbal supplement Garcinia cambogia. She was found to be hypotensive and had an elevated serum troponin level. The patient had a progressive clinical decline, ultimately experiencing fulminant heart failure and sustained ventricular arrhythmias, which required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Endomyocardial biopsy results were consistent with acute necrotizing eosinophilic myocarditis (ANEM). High-dose corticosteroids were initiated promptly and her condition rapidly improved, with almost complete cardiac recovery 1 week later. In conclusion, we have described a case of ANEM associated with the use of Garcinia cambogia extract.

Electrogram guidance: a method to increase the precision and diagnostic yield of endomyocardial biopsy for suspected cardiac sarcoidosis and myocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the method used to perform electrogram-guided EMB and correlate electrogram characteristics with pathological and clinical outcomes. BACKGROUND: Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is valuable in determining the underlying etiology of a cardiomyopathy. The sensitivity, however, for focal disorders, such as lymphocytic myocarditis and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), is low. The sensitivity of routine fluoroscopically guided EMB is low. Abnormal intracardiac electrograms are seen at sites of myocardial disease. However, the exact value of electrogram-guided EMB is unknown. METHODS: We report 11 patients who underwent electrogram-guided EMB for evaluation of myocarditis and CS. RESULTS: Of 40 total biopsy specimens taken from 11 patients, 19 had electrogram voltage <5 mV, all of which resulted in histopathologic abnormality (100% specificity and positive predictive value). A voltage amplitude cutoff value of 5 mV had substantially higher sensitivity (70% vs. 26%) and negative predictive value (62%) than 1.5 mV. Abnormal electrogram appearance at biopsy site had good sensitivity (67%) and specificity (92%) in predicting abnormal myocardium. Normal signals with voltage >5 mV signified normal myocardium with no significant diagnostic yield. Biopsy results guided therapy in all patients, including 5 with active myocarditis or CS, all of whom subsequently received immunosuppressive therapy. There were no procedural complications. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with suspected myocarditis or CS, electrogram-guided EMB targeting sites with abnormal or low-amplitude electrograms may increase the diagnostic yield for detecting abnormal pathological findings.

Clinical presentation of rheumatic fever in an endemic area.

This study documented whether patients diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in North Queensland, Australia, conformed to the 1992 Revised Jones Criteria (RJC). The authors aimed to determine whether inclusion of subclinical carditis (SCC) and monarthritis as major manifestations and a low-grade temperature as a minor manifestation in the RJC are justified in this population. A retrospective review of patients in whom the diagnosis of ARF relied on the experience of clinicians and who were admitted to the Townsville and Cairns Base Hospitals between 1997 and 2007 was undertaken. Of the 98 cases reviewed, 71.4% satisfied the RJC. Modification of the RJC increased the rate of criteria satisfaction to 91.8%. On presentation, 27 patients had SCC. Of the patients with SCC followed up, 70.5% had long-term valvular consequences. In populations endemic for ARF, monarthritis, SCC and a low-grade temperature should be included in the RJC.