This book is an up-to-date, comprehensive, clinically oriented guide to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with myocarditis. The opening chapters address the classification, histopathology and molecular diagnosis, as well as the polymorphic clinical presentations, ranging from myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries; arrhythmias of variable type and clinical severity and fulminant, acute, sub-acute or chronic heart failure; to life-threatening unexplained cardiogenic shock and sudden cardiac death.

Including chapters from leading International experts in the field, it covers all key issues from bench to bedside. Topics presented include epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical and diagnostic work-up, the role of endomyocardial biopsy and of non-invasive cardiac imaging, risk stratification, and cardiological and etiology-specific management and follow-up. For each topic, a comprehensive review of the current literature is provided and practical suggestions are offered for short- and long-term management. Lastly, future perspectives and gaps in the current knowledge are also addressed.

The book also covers a key discovery of last the 2 decades, namely the autoimmune origin of myocarditis in a sizable proportion of patients, discussing in detail the role of immunosuppression and immunomodulation, as well as the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the disease.

Mainly intended for cardiologists, general physicians, clinical immunologists and rheumatologists, it is also a valuable tool for residents in Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology.

Preface

1 Classification, histopathology, Immunohistology and molecular diagnosis of Myocarditis
2 Clinical presentation of Myocarditis
3 Endomyocardial biopsy
4 Genetic basis: myth or reality?
5 Viral myocarditis: from experimental models to molecular diagnosis in patients
6 Autoimmune myocarditis: animal models
7 Electrocardiography
8 Standard and advanced echocardiography.-9 Cardiac Magnetic resonance imaging in Myocarditis
10 Organ-specific autoimmune myocarditis
11 Myocarditis in systemic immune-mediated diseases
12 Giant cell and hypersensitivity myocarditis
13 Myocarditis in children
14 Immunosuppressive therapy: lessons from clinical trials and future perspectives
15 Immunomodulation and immunoadsorption in inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy
16 Clinical management and follow-up of Myocarditis patients on immunosuppressive therapy
17 Antiviral therapies, a critical reappraisal
18 Conventional Cardiological therapy
19 Arrhythmias in Myocarditis
20 Mechanical assist devices and heart transplantation.