Giant cell myocarditis is a rare form of autoimmune myocarditis with high morbidity and mortality that affects mainly middle-aged adults. We report a case study of a 70-year-old man on chronic immunosuppression who presented with sustained ventricular tachycardia and symptoms of acute systolic heart failure, both with poor response to standard measures. A decision to pursue endomyocardial biopsy established the diagnosis of GCM and lead to initiation of immunosuppressive therapy and a favourable outcome. Our case illustrates that a low threshold for endomyocardial biopsy in new onset heart failure can lead to actionable information even in patients of advanced age.
Keywords: Endomyocardial biopsy; Giant cell myocarditis; Heart failure; Immunosuppressive treatment; Inflammatory heart disease.
© 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.