Myocarditis and Ejection Fraction

[Karen__0__0]

  I am a 29 year old female, 5'7", 135lbs, non-smoker, social drinker.  Three years ago I was diagnosed by my primary care physician (also a cardiologist) with viral myocarditis.  A year later pericarditis.  My physician told me not to worry, this was a common occurance after a viral infection and that viruses have to run their course.  Anyway, to make a long story short, back then my ejection fraction was 48%.  Now its 60%.  My physician feels I've made a pretty good recovery.  I wish I feel the way I did before all of this started.  Is it possible to completely re-gain your cardiovascualr health after something like this happens.  I used to be very active and athletic but now very fatigued and inactive.  Any info would be much appreciated.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Dear Karen,
Thank you for your question.  Myocarditis is a viral infection of the heart muscle.  It may lead to a cardiomyopathy - a "weakness" of the heart muscle.

Symptoms are shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, chest discomfort and palpitations and increased fatigue.  Treatment is usually medical and in severe cases heart transplant.  About a third of patients get worse with some going on to transplant.  Another third stay the same and are managed well with medical therapy and the rest get better.  Even if the heart muscle is completely "healed" a person may still feel tired due to deconditioning that occurs during the illness.  It is possible to regain your prior fitness level over time.
Q: How common is Dialated Cardiomyopathy as a result of a virus?
A:  In young people it is probably the number one cause of cardiomyopathy.  In older people it is less common.
Q: Is it serious or no big deal?
A:  It is a serious condition and should be followed carefully.
Q: Should those of us that have it be concerned?
A: Concerned in regard to taking good care of yourself and following your doctor's advice.
A: How often should one (someone with cardiomyopathy)  have their EF checked?
Q: This will vary from doctor to doctor but generally every 6 months to a year.
Q: Does the EF% have anything to do with a person's energy level?
A: Someone with a decreased EF may feel more fatigued.
Q: What is the average life years expectancy of a person with Dialated Cardiomyopathy?
A: This will vary considerably depending upon the severity of the illness.  Some people may die within months to years and others  go on to have normal lifespans.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.