Sequelae of nonrheumatic myocarditis in children: a follow-up study.

A follow-up study of childhood myocarditis for at least 12 months (12--39 months, average 19.7 months) was made on 26 patients. Regular cardiological examinations (X-ray, ECG, PCG, MCG and UCG) and serum enzyme studies (especially LDH isozyme and CPK isozyme) were done. Clinical and cardiological normalization was seen in 13 (50.0%), not necessarily with normalized enzyme study. Major residual abnormalities were: CRBBB (3), VPC (3), abnormal Q (1), A-V block I (1), large IVth sound (1) and chronic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy (HNCM) (1). Mild, transient recurrences were seen in 3. Enzyme abnormalities, which existed at the first visit in all cases, disappeared only in 12. This suggests that somewhat active inflammatory process may persist for years, even after clinical and cardiological normalization. The patient with HNCM had a heavy familial history of cardiomyopathy. The relationship between myocarditis and cardiomyopathy was discussed. It is necessary to examine every patients with cardiomyopathy from the stand of view of myocarditis.