Eosinophilic myocarditis: Gardia lamblia infestation and Garcinia cambogia. Coincidence or causality? (RCD code: III‑1B.1.o)
Journal Title: Journal of Rare Cardiovascular Diseases - Year 2016, Vol 2, Issue 7
Abstract
Eosinophilic myocarditis is a rare form of myocardial inflammation that may lead to heart failure and death, if left untreated. A previously healthy 26-year-old man was admitted to the department with chest pain and dyspnoea, that started two days before. Few days prior to the onset of symptoms he started to take weight-loss supplement with Garcinia cambogia. On laboratory tests myocardial necrosis markers were positive and blood hypereosinophilia was noted. Left ventricular ejection fraction was slightly decreased to 45% with regional wall motion abnormalities and significantly thickened left ventricle walls. Coronary angiography did not show any abnormalities. Endomyocardial biopsy revealed eosinophil infiltration of the myocardium. Stool cultures were positive for Giardia lamblia. The patient initially received standard heart failure therapy and then due to eosinophil infiltration of the myocardium, systemic steroids and antiparasitic treatment were added. His general condition and ejection fraction improved after a week and he was discharged home on standard heart failure treatment and prednisone. In the setting of acute coronary syndrome symptoms in patients without atherosclerotic lesions and decreased ejection fraction myocarditis should be suspected. Blood hypereosinophilia may raise suspicion of the eosinophilic myocarditis. The proper diagnosis should be supported by endomyocardial biopsy results as it plays key role in the initiation of steroid therapy which leads to heart failure symptoms relieve and improvement of left ventricle function.
Authors and Affiliations
Karolina Dzierwa, Lucyna Rudnicka-Sosin, Paweł Rubiś, Lukasz Tekieli, Piotr Pieniążek
JRCD: a means to improve standards of care in rare cardiovascular diseases
Dear Friends and Colleagues, Dear Readers, I hope you will not mind me starting this Editorial with addressing, at first, Friends and Colleagues. This reflects the spirit of our new Journal. Our Friends and Colleagues ha...
Spirituality/religiosity of man from the perspective of quality of life – a review of Polish research in social studies
Research into the spirituality/religiosity of patients is considered as an important area of study, together with studies of quality of life (QoL).The purpose of this article was to recognise if and how the category of s...
Pulmonary arterial hypertension: management in specific medical conditions
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive disease. Due to the narrowing of the blood vessels in the lungs, pul- monary vascular resistance and pulmonary pressures increase. This results in reduced...
Heart in Fabry Disease
Fabry disease is one of the lysosomal storage disorders, that results from progressive multiorgan accumulation of glycoproteins. It is caused by mutations of the GLA gene, which encodes alpha-galactosidase A. The incide...
Update on myocarditis – review (RCD code: III-6A.1)
Myocardits is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium diagnosed by established histological and immunohistochemical criteria. The true incidence of myocarditis is unknown. There are numerous potential etiologic factors...