Steroids in the management of acute myocarditis in children

ABSTRACT

To compare hospital shy, need and duration of inotropic support, mortality to assess immediate outcome and long term recovery in patients with or without steroids. In acute myocarditis, virus is replicating and steroids can be harmful. This clinical trial was conducted on children admitted to a single centre from February 2003 to September 2004 in the Department of Paediatric Cardiology, the Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore. Echocardiography was used to confirm dilated dysfunctioning heart with EF under 45%. 100 consecutive children with myocarditis were studied. Mean duration of symptoms was +/- 7.47 in group-is and +/- 13.01 in group-B. The patients presented in shock and severe CCF requiring inotropic support were 43 [86%] in group-A and 38 [76%] in group-B. mean hospital stay [7.47 days] in group-A and 5.68 in group-B, duration of inotropic support [5.34 and 3.95] in group-A and B], hospital mortality [1 and 3] were analyzed and found insignificant statistically. Full recovery [p patients in group-A and 7 in group-B], partial recovery [16 and 13], no recovery [7 and 9] were compared. There was no significant difference. Results of this clinical trial conclude though steroids in acute myocarditis are not harmful but has no significant effect on immediate outcome and long term recovery