Primary myocardial disease, nowadays referred to as congestive or, more re cently, dilating cardiomyopathy, comprises disorders of varied etiology. Most oftenly the pathogenetic mechanism or causative agent remains unknown. The significance of inflammatory processes, i.e. myocarditis in a wider sense as the etiologic factor has been debated for many years. In a few instances, especially in children and newborns viral infections can be incriminated. In adults this etiology can be ascertained only in rare instances. And it has remained entirely uncertain if, or under which circumstances, and how often virus myocarditis can lead to a chronic disorder of the heart, namely dilated cardiomyopathy. Although it would seem conceivable that an immunological response to an infectious agent might induce parenchymal damage with subsequent loss of cellular function and structural integrity of permanent nature, i.e. dilatation, functional deterioration and dysrhythmias, numerous attempts to establish such a pathogenetic mechanism have not yet furnished convinicing results. Therefore the reader will direct his attention specifically to the respective contribution in this volume. Morphologic studies have yielded a host of new and intriguing findings in cardiomyopathy, but have likewise failed to settle the basic question as to which etiology can be held responsible in a given case, especially if an inflam matory process can be incriminated. Specific processes such as sarcoidosis of the heart undoubtedly furnish examples of chronic inflammation as a cause of dilating cardiomyopathy. This disorder, however, as a specific inflammato ry myocardial affection, i.e. myocarditis, is encountered only infrequently.

Myocarditis - Cardiomyopathy: Historic Survey and Definition

Myocarditis as a Possible Cause of Cardiomyopathy
The Natural History of Dilated Cardiomyopathy and the Problem of Myocarditis
Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy: The Panoramic Nature of Their Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Clinical Consequences, with Special Consideration of the Involvement of the Conduction System
Immunologic Findings in Myocardial Diseases, with Particular Reference to Myocarditis
Diagnostic and Pathogenic Relevance of Antimyocardial Antibodies and Circulating Immune Complexes in Perimyocarditis and Congestive Cardiomyopathy
Right Ventricular Dysplasia: A Report of 24 Adult Cases
Eosinophilic Heart Disease
Echocardiographic Findings in Patients with Hypereosinophilia
Biochemical Findings in Serum of Patients with Congestive Cardiomyopathy: Is Serum Selenium Concentration a Possible Marker?
The Clinical Significance of Myocardial Biopsy
Myocardial Hypertrophy - Development and Regression
Morphometric and Cytophotometric Investigations of Myocardial Diseases
Left Ventricular Muscle Mass and Chamber Volume in Dilative Cardiomyopathy - An Angiocardiographic Study
Left Ventricular Mass and Wall Stress in the Evaluation of Myocardial Performance: Functional, Metabolic, and Therapeutic Consequences in Chronic Heart Disease
Congestive Cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiological Aspects
Computertomographic Findings in Congestive Cardiomyopathy
Echocardiographic Studies in Cardiomyopathies
Central Hemodynamics at Rest and During Exercise in Dilative Cardiomyopathy
Involvement of the Sinus Node and the Conduction System in Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy
Prevalence of Arrhythmias During 24-Hour Electrocardiographic Monitoring in Patients with Dilative Cardiomyopathy.-Arrhythmias in Patients with Congestive and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy During Holter Monitoring and Interventions
Repetitive Response to Ventricular Extrastimuli in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy
ST-T Wave Changes in Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy
Alterations of Ventricular Depolarization in Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy
Interaction Between Digoxin and Antiarrhythmic, Diuretic, or Vasodilator Drugs
Evaluation of Long-term Efficacy of Digoxin Therapy in Congestive Cardiomyopathy
Artificial Ventilation in Cardiac Failure.