Myocarditis


Inflammation of the myocardium, the heart muscle.

Myocarditis can be caused by a number of different conditions. The most common cause is infection of the heart muscle by a virus. The virus causes the initial heart muscle inflammation. After the initial viral infection subsides, the body’s immune system continues to inflict inflammatory damage on the heart muscles, prolonging the myocarditis, a process termed autoimmunity. Other causes of myocarditis include such as a disease called sarcoidosis, various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus, and certain drugs.

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  • Myoclonic seizure

    A seizure characterized by jerking (myoclonic) movements of a muscle or muscle group, without loss of consciousness.

  • Myoclonic twitch

    A rapid, involuntary muscle contraction, particularly near the eye. Myoclonic twitches resemble and may be mistaken for tics. Like tics, they tend to occur more often when the person is under stress; unlike tics, they are not preceded by any sensation and they cannot be delayed.

  • Myoclonus

    A condition of abnormal contraction of muscles or portions of muscles.

  • Myocyte

    A muscle cell. From myo-, muscle + -cyte, cell = muscle cell. “Remaining young at heart is a desirable but elusive goal. Unbeknown to us, however, myocyte regeneration may accomplish just that.” (Nature 415, 240, 2003)

  • Myofascial pain syndrome

    A condition characterized by chronic pain in the muscle tissues, similar to fibromyalgia. MPS is sometimes the aftermath of injury. Pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication, and therapies aimed at relaxing the muscles tissues (such as massage, chiropracty, and some forms of acupuncture) have been reported as beneficial. Abbreviated MPS. See also fibromyalgia.


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