Myocarditis

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium), but may affect any layer of the heart wall. Symptoms can include chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, swelling in the lower extremities, difficulty catching your breath, unusual tiredness and flu-like symptoms. Severe cases can lead to heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias.

Why Choose The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center?

Some people who have severe myocarditis may require temporary support with a ventricular assist device (VAD), also known as a heart pump. Once stabilized, the ventricular assist device could be removed. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s ventricular assist devices program has grown by 179 percent for implanted devices in recent years. The Wexner Medical Center was one of the nation’s leading enrollers in a randomized multi-center trial testing the effectiveness of a second-generation ventricular assist device that is smaller, lighter and longer lasting than previous models. The device recently received Food and Drug Administration approval as a destination therapy for heart failure patients.

The most severe cases of myocarditis may result in the need for a heart transplant. Since completing our first heart transplant in 1986, The Ohio State University Medical Center is the only adult heart transplant center in central Ohio.

What Is Myocarditis?

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. It can present acutely or have been present for a longer duration, unknown to the patient. The inflammation may be present in a small or large (diffuse) area of the heart. It can weaken the heart causing it to fail in supplying an adequate blood supply throughout the body.

What Causes Myocarditis?

The immune system fights infection in the body. When infection affects the heart, the cells that fight the infection can cause damage to the heart.

Myocarditis can be caused by an infection from a virus or a pathogen, such as bacteria and fungi.

Some of the viruses that can cause myocarditis include:

• Coxsackie
• Herpes
• HIV
• Hepatitis C
• Parovirus
• Mononucelosis
• Measles

Bacteria that can cause myocarditis include:

• Chlamydia
• Streptococcus
• Staphylococcus

Fungi that can cause myocarditis include:

• Candida
• Histoplasma
• Schistosomiasis
• Aspergillus

Some diseases and medications also can cause myocarditis. In many cases, a clear cause is not identified.

Cardiologists

• Alex Auseon, DO 
• Ragavendra Baliga, MBBS
• Vincent Brinkman, MD
• Charles Bush, MD
• Michael Davis, MD
• Jennifer Dickerson, MD
• Evan Dixon, MD
• Theodore Fraker Jr., MD
• Rodney Graber, MD
• Charles Hardebeck, MD
• William Houser, MD
• Albert Kolibash Jr., MD
• Scott Maffett, MD 
• Douglas Magorien, MD
• U. Krishnan Marar, MBBS
• Laxmi Mehta, MD
• Stephany Moore, MD
• David Orsinelli, MD
• Sanjay Rajagopalan, MBBS
• Subha Raman, MD
• Sharon Roble, MD
• James M. Ryan, MD
• Thomas Ryan, MD
• Pallavi Solanki, MBBS 
• Mary Breckenridge, MD
• Debbra Debaets, MD
• Barry George, MD
• Arsad Karcic, MD
• Lawrence Murcko, MD
• Timothy Obarski, DO

Cardiothoracic Surgeons

• Juan Crestanello, MD
• Michael Firstenberg, MD
• Robert Higgins, MD
• C.B. Sai-Sudhakar, MBBS
• John Sirak, MD