[Visceral larva migrans with cardiac manifestation: a case report and literature review]

Introduction: Toxocariasis is a roundworm infection that may be associated with serious cardiac manifestations. We report one case and review another 12 cases in the literature.

Case report: A 74-year-old man, presented with clinical features of myopericarditis. Eosinophil count was 20,000/mm(3). The ELISA and Western Blot were positive for Toxocara canis. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and antiparasite treatment. The outcome was rapidly favorable.

Discussion: In the other 12 cases, the cardiac manifestations were often severe: six myocarditis, three tamponades and three Loeffler's endocarditis have been published. Four therapeutic strategies have been reported: symptomatic treatment alone was associated with worse progressive; antiparasite treatment alone or companied with corticosteroids and corticosteroids alone had good results.

Conclusion: The toxocariasis should be investigated systematically in case of eosinophilic cardiomyopathy. The treatment strategy is still controversial.