Acute myocarditis after urinary tract infection by Escherichia coli

Abstract

Infectious myocarditis is a major cause of heart failure. For many years this condition has been underdiagnosed mainly due to the need of endomyocardial biopsy. However in the last decade its diagnosis is increasing thanks to new techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and molecular analysis. Viral infection is the most common cause in developed countries, but some protozoa and bacteria have also been identified as causal agents. The prognosis varies greatly from asymptomatic affectation to fulminant heart failure or life-threatening arrhythmic events.