Key result
Steroids and cyclophosphamide fail to halt progressive, fatal myocarditis in mixed connective tissue disease.
Why the study?
Myocarditis has not previously been described in adults with mixed connective tissue disease but may be an important complication in patients with high antibody titers to nuclear ribonucleoprotein.
Case Report (n=1)
Myocarditis may be an important and potentially fatal complication in adult patients with mixed connective tissue disease and high titers of antibody to nuclear ribonucleoprotein.
Myocarditis may prove fatal in MCTD; this first report leaves open its prevalence and need for cardiac surveillance.
A young black woman with clinical and serologic features of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) developed myocarditis with congestive heart failure and ventricular ectopic activity. Despite treatment with steroids and cyclophosphamide, progressive myocarditis resulted in death 20 months after cardiomegaly first developed. Necropsy findings in the myocardium included multiple areas of extensive lymphocytic infiltration and patches of fibrosis. Myocarditis has not previously been described in the adult with MCTD but may be an important complication in patients with a high titer of antibody to nuclear ribonucleoprotein.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Whitlow et al. (1980) conducted a case report in Mixed connective tissue disease and myocarditis (n=1). Steroids and cyclophosphamide was evaluated on Clinical course and mortality. A young woman with mixed connective tissue disease developed progressive, fatal myocarditis despite treatment with steroids and cyclophosphamide, resulting in death 20 months after cardiomegaly onset.
Synapse has enriched 3 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: