Myocarditis echocardiography


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.

Overview
Echocardiography in patients with myocarditis allows for serial assessment of left ventricular dysfunction, and can be used to distinguish fulminant (non-dilated hypocontractile left ventricle with thick interventricular septum) from acute myocarditis (dilated hypocontractile left ventricle with normal interventricular septum).

Echocardiography
Echocardiographic findings in myocardits include:
 * Wall motion abnormalities.
 * Systolic dysfunction.
 * Diastolic dysfunction.
 * Changes in image texture on echocardiogram, i.e. increase in brightness, heterogeneity, and contrast.
 * Pericardial effusion may be noted in few patients.
 * Functional regurgitation through the AV valves may be noted due to ventricular dilation.
 * Cardiac function may be monitored via serial echocardiograms. In general, left ventricular function improves in fulminant myocarditis over a course of approximately 6 months.

Fulminant Versus Acute Myocarditis on Echocardiography
Fulminant myocarditis appears as a non-dilated, thickened and hypocontractile left ventricle with increased septal thickness while, acute myocarditis is associated with marked left ventricular dilation, normal septal thickness and decreased ventricular function.