Giant Cell Myocarditis and Endomyocardial Calcification in a 2.5-Month-Old Infant Triggered by Excessive Maternal Alcohol Abuse: Case Study of an Unusual Association

Abstract

This report describes an unusual case of a 2.5-month-old infant's sudden death secondary to giant cell myocarditis and endomyocardial calcification, both unusual entities in pediatric patients. The mother had a history of excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the postnatal period. No infectious etiologies, hypersensivity, or autoimmune disorders were identified. Therefore, the authors assume that alcohol exposure might be responsible for the inflammatory giant cell process complicated with endomyocardial calcification in susceptible infants. This report is the first to describe the rare form of noninfectious myocarditis complicated with endomyocardial calcification possibly triggered by a toxic agent. The authors discuss the possible interaction between these processes that led to the infant's sudden death.

Case Report: Rapid and progressive left ventricular endocardial calcification in an infant with Williams syndrome

“…Endocardial calcification is very rare in infancy. At present, only one case of giant cell myocarditis and endomyocardial calcification in a 2.5-month-old infant has been reported, which was triggered by excessive maternal alcohol abuse ( 11 ). The patient had poor cardiac function, and electrocardiogram indicated myocardial ischemia.…”