ACUTE SEVERE COXSACKIE VIRUS-BETA MYOCARD ITIS OF A PSEUDONECROTIC TYPE - 2 CASE-HISTORIES

This study reports two cases of acute severe Coxsackie virus B4 myocar ditis in which the immediate clinical signs suggested the acute phase of myocardial infarction, apparently antero-lateral in the first case in a context of cardiogenic shock and infero-lateral in the second cas e, in the context of acute pulmonary edema. Both cases were characteri zed by the severity of the initial signs. Numerous other cases of acut e Coxsackie virus B myocarditis, simulating myocardial infarction, hav e been reported in the literature and these contexts deserve to be rec ognized earlier as they call for specific treatment. The immediate out come was favorable in both cases but required massive cardiological in tensive care in the first patient. Long term follow-up was excellent.