[Acute myocarditis simulating an anterior infarction rupture. Apropos of 2 cases].

The first case report concerns a 31 year old woman presenting clinically and electrocardiographically as an anteroseptal myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock with equalization of right heart diastolic pressures. Coronary angiography performed under circulatory assistance was normal. The patient recovered, and clinical examination 4 years after the acute episode is absolutely normal. The second case was a 37 year old man admitted in cardiogenic shock thought to be due to a large anterior myocardial infarct. Catheterisation showed equalization of right heart diastolic pressures. Pericardial aspiration was negative and the most likely diagnosis appeared to be a localised rupture of the heart. The patient underwent emergency cardiac surgery but no infarct scar was observed and opening the pericardium did not improve the haemodynamics. Coronary angiography was carried out at the 24th hour under circulatory assistance and was found to be normal. The diagnosis was corrected to that of acute myocarditis and 5 months after the acute episode clinical cure was confirmed by normal echocardiography and angiography. The only positive aetiological finding in this case was the serology to chlamydia trachomatis which as strongly positive at increasing titres. Chlamydia was isolated from the patient's urethra and a chlamydia trachomatis exocervicitis was also found in the partner. This appears to be the first reported case of chlamydia trachomatis acute myocarditis in the adult.