Patients with myocarditis usually present with signs and symptoms of acute decompensation of heart failure. S3 gallop, jugular venous distention, peripheral edema, and tachycardia may be present. In those with concomitant pericarditis, pericardial friction rub may be observed.
Specific findings in special cases are:
Sarcoid myocarditis: lymphadenopathy, arrhythmias, sarcoid involvement in other organs
Acute rheumatic fever: associated signs, such as erythema marginatum, polyarthralgia, chorea, subcutaneous nodules (Jones criteria)
Hypersensitive/eosinophilic myocarditis: pruritic maculopapular rash and history of using offending drug
Giant cell myocarditis: sustained ventricular tachycardia in rapidly progressive heart failure
Peripartum cardiomyopathy: heart failure developing in the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months following delivery
Read more on physical examination findings in myocarditis.
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Cite this: Yasmine S. Ali. Fast Five Quiz: Myocarditis - Medscape - Dec 13, 2021.
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