Chronic inflammation in the myocardium of patients with clinically suspected dilated cardiomyopathy

摘要: Dilated cardiomyopathy continues to be an etiologically unknown heart muscle disease. Recent clinical and experimental data have suggested a causal relation viral myocarditis. The diagnosis, however, is unspecific, diagnostic yield of the histologic evaluation endomyocardial biopsies by light microscopy according Dallas classification poor. authors analyzed biopsy specimens 120 patients with suspected dilated immunohistologic methods obtain more sensitive specific identification quantification infiltrating lymphocytes, indicating activated immunologic process within myocardium. Increased lymphocytic infiltrates inflammatory endothelial activation were demonstrated in clinically cardiomyopathy. These findings are associated often seen progression ventricular dysfunction. Further studies necessary prove whether these immunohistologically positive will improve under immunosuppressive therapy.