Acute Myocarditis Masquerading as ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in a 17-Year-Old

Abstract

Myocarditis can have a variable clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic to full-blown fulminant heart failure with severe left ventricular dysfunction or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) even ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Clinically myocarditis mimicking STEMI can present physicians with a great diagnostic challenge, especially in the absence of pro-dormal flu-like symptoms or a recent viral illness. Cardiac MRI has demonstrated superiority in detecting myocardial abnormalities and differentiating patients with myocarditis and from those with true STEMI.

Myocarditis Presenting as ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

“…Although cases of myocarditis mimicking STEMI are rare, they are certainly represented in the literature [3][4][5]. In a patient presenting with acute chest pain and ST elevations on ECG, work-up of acute coronary syndrome is the first step.…”