Pericarditis and myocarditis. Which is benign and which isn't?

Pericarditis and myocarditis are inflammatory diseases that are often initiated by common viruses. Pericarditis rarely causes serious long-term disability, whereas myocarditis may lead to chronic congestive cardiomyopathy and permanent disability. The pathogenesis of both is proposed to be bimodal, with an early stage characterized by viral replication and a later stage by infiltration of lymphocytes and necrosis of cells secondary to an autoimmune process. Treatment of pericarditis is usually symptomatic. Myocarditis requires bed rest and conventional therapy for congestive heart failure. Efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy for myocarditis is currently being tested in an international multi-center clinical trial.