Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is an extremely rare and rapidly fatal cardiovascular condition with high morbidity and mortality. It usually affects young healthy individuals and may be associated with autoimmune disorders. In the majority of cases, the course of the disease is in the form of fulminant myocarditis. The basis of its diagnosis is an endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). Even with optimal medical care, GCM has a bad prognosis. Herein we report a case of a 54-year-old female who presented with difficulty in breathing and was clinically diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction in cardiogenic shock and died on the 3rd day of admission. After the autopsy, histopathologically it was diagnosed as a case of giant cell myocarditis.
We intend to raise awareness of this rare disease process and its potential to cause sudden cardiac death in absence of any previous symptomatic heart disease.
Key words: Giant cell myocarditis, Asteroid bodies, Myocyte necrosis, Autopsy
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