Giant cell myocarditis: A case report

The authors report a case of giant cell myocarditis leading to rapidly prog ressive cardiac failure despite immune-suppressor treatment in a 20 year ol d woman. The cardiac failure was successfully managed by implantation of a left ventricular assist device and then cardiac transplantation. The proble ms encountered underline the importance of accurate diagnosis by endomyocar dial biopsy before undertaking treatment and the difficulties in the choice of appropriate method of assistance in this indication. Giant cell myocarditis is a rare cause of cardiac failure and should be con sidered in the differential diagnosis in view of its clinical features and risk of progression. The literature and the therapeutic implications are di scussed.