Pathologic evidence of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in two siblings.

ABSTRACT

This report describes the case of two siblings who underwent heart transplantation with a clinical diagnosis of mildly dilated cardiomyopathy. Pathological examination of the hearts revealed arrhythmogenic (right ventricular) cardiomyopathy, adipose type, associated with biventricular myocarditis in both the recipients' hearts. Family history revealed the occurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in their father and his sister. To our knowledge, this is the first pathological demonstration of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in siblings. We think this report substantiates a genetic ground for the relationship between these two heart conditions.