MYOCARDITIS MIMICKING MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTI ON

We describe 3 patients with an initial diagnosis of myocardial infarct ion, in whom a definitive diagnosis of myocarditis was subsequently es tablished. All had precordial chest pain, electrocardiographic changes , elevated cardiac enzyme levels and regional wall motion abnormalitie s of the left ventricle compatible with myocardial infarction. During follow-up, all symptoms subsided and electrocardiographic tracings nor malized. Regional wall motion abnormalities disappeared in two and per sisted in one patient. These findings show that myocarditis may mimic myocardial infarction, and that the definitive diagnosis is generally established retrospectively.