myocarditis

Inflammation of the muscular walls of the heart.

- acute isolated m. an acute interstitial m. of unknown cause, the endocardium and pericardium being unaffected. SYN: Fiedler m..

- Fiedler m. SYN: acute isolated m..

- giant cell m. acute isolated m. characterized by infiltration by granulomas containing giant cells.

- idiopathic m. inflammation of the heart muscle of unknown origin.

- indurative m. chronic m. leading to hardening of the muscular wall of the heart.

- toxic m. inflammation of heart muscle caused by any noxious chemical, e.g., alcohol, heavy metals.

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myo·car·di·tis .mī-ə-(.)kär-'dīt-əs n inflammation of the myocardium

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n.

acute or chronic inflammation of the heart muscle. It may be seen alone or as part of pancarditis (see endomyocarditis).

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myo·car·di·tis (mi″o-kahr-diґtis) [myo- + carditis] inflammation of the muscular walls of the heart. myocarditic adj