J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2012 Sep;20(3):150-153. 10.4250/jcu.2012.20.3.150.

Eosinophilic Myocarditis Associated with Visceral Larva Migrans Caused by Toxocara Canis Infection

• Kim JH
• Chung WB
• Chang KY
• Ko SY
• Park MH
• Sa YK
• Choi YS
• Park CS
• Lee MY

• KMID: 1808351
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2012.20.3.150

Abstract

A 41-year-old woman who was diagnosed with myocarditis presented eosinophilia. Since the antibody against Toxocara canis (T. canis) was positive, we diagnosed that she had visceral larva migrans due to T. canis associated with myocarditis. She was treated with oral albendazole and prednisolone for two weeks, eosinophil count and hepatic enzymes were normalized after completion of treatment. This is the first report of myocarditis caused by T. canis infection in Korea.

Keyword

Eosinophilic myocarditis; Toxocara canis; Visceral larva migrans

MeSH Terms

Adult
Albendazole
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Female
Humans
Korea
Larva Migrans, Visceral
Myocarditis
Prednisolone
Toxocara
Toxocara canis
Albendazole
Prednisolone

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Twelve-lead electrocardiogram reveals regular sinus rhythm with low voltage.

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  Fig. 2 Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). A: Parasternal long axis view of TTE showed edematous myocardium with increased echogenicity and small pericardial effusion. B: M-mode image of mid ventricular level of left ventricle showed decreased contractility. C: Follow-up TTE after treatment showed markedly decreased echogenicity of myocardium and pericardial effusion. D: M-mode image also showed normalized left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and recovered LV contractility after steroid therapy. *: interventricular septum, •: left ventricular cavity.

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  Fig. 3 Myocardial biopsy microscopic finding (after three days of treatment with prednisolone) shows myocyte necrosis and degeneration [H&E stain, (A) × 100, (B) × 400]. ←: myocyte necrosis, ○: myocyte degeneration.

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