Complete atrioventricular block associated with regional myocardial scarring in a patient with Coxsackie B2 myocarditis.

Transient atrioventricular (A-V) conduction abnormalities are often experienced in patients with evolving acute viral myocarditis, but persistent complete A-V block requiring permanent cardiac pacing is rare. We describe a case who developed irreversible complete A-V block during the long-term course of Coxsackie B2 myocarditis. The endomyocardial biopsy revealed inflammatory cellular infiltrates and myocyte necrosis. A left ventriculogram and echocardiogram consistently demonstrated an aneurysm in the basal portion of the interventricular septum. It was speculated that the extensive myocardial scar caused by acute myocarditis resulted in the ventricular aneurysm of this particular myocardial region involving the A-V conduction system.