[Endomyocardial biopsy in the diagnosis of myocarditis and cardiomyopathies].

Fifty patients with the following suspected diseases were examined: examined: congenital heart disease (25), rheumatic heart disease (7), infectious-allergic myocarditis (12), fibroelastosis of the endocardium (3), alcoholic cardiomyopathy (2), drug cardiomyopathy (1). Catheterization biopsy of the endo- and myocardium was accomplished with a special bioptome after catheterization of the heart. No complications occurred during or after biopsy. The results of histologic and histochemical examination of the bioptates of the cardiac muscle are discussed. On the basis of the data in the literature and personal experience, it is concluded that biopsy of the endo- and myocardium may be undertaken to specify the etiology and pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy. The method is comparatively safe.