Myocarditis Cardiomyopathy, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1983 Selected Problems of Pathogenesis and Clinic International Boehringer Mannheim Symposia Series

Primary myocardial disease, nowadays referred to as congestive or, more re­ cently, dilating cardiomyopathy, comprises disorders of varied etiology. Most oftenly the pathogenetic mechanism or causative agent remains unknown. The significance of inflammatory processes, i.e. myocarditis in a wider sense as the etiologic factor has been debated for many years. In a few instances, especially in children and newborns viral infections can be incriminated. In adults this etiology can be ascertained only in rare instances. And it has remained entirely uncertain if, or under which circumstances, and how often virus myocarditis can lead to a chronic disorder of the heart, namely dilated cardiomyopathy. Although it would seem conceivable that an immunological response to an infectious agent might induce parenchymal damage with subsequent loss of cellular function and structural integrity of permanent nature, i.e. dilatation, functional deterioration and dysrhythmias, numerous attempts to establish such a pathogenetic mechanism have not yet furnished convinicing results. Therefore the reader will direct his attention specifically to the respective contribution in this volume. Morphologic studies have yielded a host of new and intriguing findings in cardiomyopathy, but have likewise failed to settle the basic question as to which etiology can be held responsible in a given case, especially if an inflam­ matory process can be incriminated. Specific processes such as sarcoidosis of the heart undoubtedly furnish examples of chronic inflammation as a cause of dilating cardiomyopathy. This disorder, however, as a specific inflammato­ ry myocardial affection, i.e. myocarditis, is encountered only infrequently.

Myocarditis — Cardiomyopathy: Historic Survey and Definition.- Myocarditis as a Possible Cause of Cardiomyopathy.- The Natural History of Dilated Cardiomyopathy and the Problem of Myocarditis.- Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy: The Panoramic Nature of Their Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Clinical Consequences, with Special Consideration of the Involvement of the Conduction System.- Immunologic Findings in Myocardial Diseases, with Particular Reference to Myocarditis.- Diagnostic and Pathogenic Relevance of Antimyocardial Antibodies and Circulating Immune Complexes in Perimyocarditis and Congestive Cardiomyopathy.- Right Ventricular Dysplasia: A Report of 24 Adult Cases.- Eosinophilic Heart Disease.- Echocardiographic Findings in Patients with Hypereosinophilia.- Biochemical Findings in Serum of Patients with Congestive Cardiomyopathy: Is Serum Selenium Concentration a Possible Marker?.- The Clinical Significance of Myocardial Biopsy.- Myocardial Hypertrophy — Development and Regression.- Morphometric and Cytophotometric Investigations of Myocardial Diseases.- Left Ventricular Muscle Mass and Chamber Volume in Dilative Cardiomyopathy — An Angiocardiographic Study.- Left Ventricular Mass and Wall Stress in the Evaluation of Myocardial Performance: Functional, Metabolic, and Therapeutic Consequences in Chronic Heart Disease.- Congestive Cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiological Aspects.- Computertomographic Findings in Congestive Cardiomyopathy.- Echocardiographic Studies in Cardiomyopathies.- Central Hemodynamics at Rest and During Exercise in Dilative Cardiomyopathy.- Involvement of the Sinus Node and the Conduction System in Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy.- Prevalence of Arrhythmias During 24-Hour Electrocardiographic Monitoring in Patients with Dilative Cardiomyopathy.- Arrhythmias in Patients with Congestive and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy During Holter Monitoring and Interventions.- Repetitive Response to Ventricular Extrastimuli in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.- ST-T Wave Changes in Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy.- Alterations of Ventricular Depolarization in Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy.- Interaction Between Digoxin and Antiarrhythmic, Diuretic, or Vasodilator Drugs.- Evaluation of Long-term Efficacy of Digoxin Therapy in Congestive Cardiomyopathy.- Artificial Ventilation in Cardiac Failure.