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Molecular Research in Myocarditis

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 449

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Cardiology and Cardioimmunology Laboratory, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Interests: myocarditis; cardiovascular diseases; inflammation; hematology; immunity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium with a high heterogeneous etiology (viral or autoimmune) as well as outcomes. Moreover, recently a novel type of myocarditis has been described driven by immune check point inhibitors treatment.  There are still many open questions to be solved, for example regarding why the immune system builds an excessive anti-heart response after infections, or how some genetic mutations might influence autoimmune myocarditis.  For this reason, it is important to study the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of myocarditis development to identify novel molecular markers of myocarditis etiology/outcome and novel specific therapeutic targets, which are both still important unmet medical needs. This special issue will gather articles on studies focused in understanding the pathogenic molecular mechanisms and markers, genetic association of myocarditis and novel therapeutic targets.

Dr. Cristina Vicenzetto
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • myocarditis
  • autoimmunity
  • viral myocarditis
  • molecular mechanisms
  • genetic background
  • therapeutic targets

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

17 pages, 3595 KiB  
Review
Hydrocarbon Exposure in Myocarditis: Rare Toxic Cause or Trigger? Insights from a Biopsy-Proven Fulminant Viral Case and a Systematic Literature Review
by Andrea S. Giordani, Tommaso Simone, Anna Baritussio, Cristina Vicenzetto, Federico Scognamiglio, Filippo Donato, Luca Licchelli, Luisa Cacciavillani, Chiara Fraccaro, Giuseppe Tarantini, Fausto Braccioni, Stefania Rizzo, Monica De Gaspari, Cristina Basso, Renzo Marcolongo and Alida L. P. Caforio
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(9), 4006; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26094006 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 258
Abstract
Toxic myocarditis (TM) is rare, and no systematic evidence is available regarding its treatment or prognosis. Hydrocarbons even more rarely cause TM, and they are associated with severe extracardiac toxicity. Moreover, a pathogenic interaction between viral and toxic agents in TM has not [...] Read more.
Toxic myocarditis (TM) is rare, and no systematic evidence is available regarding its treatment or prognosis. Hydrocarbons even more rarely cause TM, and they are associated with severe extracardiac toxicity. Moreover, a pathogenic interaction between viral and toxic agents in TM has not been studied. We present the first case of biopsy-proven parvovirus B19 (B19V) viral fulminant myocarditis diagnosed after hydrocarbon exposure, along with a systematic literature review of hydrocarbon-TM cases. A systematic literature review was conducted by searching hydrocarbon-TM cases. Clinical and prognostic data were recorded. After screening of 937 records, 7 were included. All cases were male, with a median age of 24 years (IQR 23–25). Chest pain and dyspnea were the main symptoms, but arrhythmic presentation was also reported; endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) was performed in only one case. Overall, treatment was based on supportive measures, such as antiarrhythmic and/or vasoactive therapy. Our example (male, 47 years old) is the first reported fulminant biopsy-proven case diagnosed after a massive exposure to hydrocarbons, in which EMB molecular analysis unexpectedly revealed B19V with a high viral load. Hemodynamic and arrhythmic instability required percutaneous stellate ganglion blockade and temporary wearable defibrillator use. Left ventricular function spontaneously normalized at 3 months. In conclusion, we report the first fulminant B19V myocarditis case temporally associated with aromatic hydrocarbon exposure due to a coexistence of viral and toxic causes. Our case and the systematic review show that promptly performing EMB can provide a definitive diagnosis and guide treatment, especially in severe cases in which infectious agents may contribute to myocardial damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research in Myocarditis)
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