[Familial spam (streptococcal pharyngitis associated myocarditis): is it a new entity or a coincidence?].

BACKGROUND

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium. It is potentially life-threatening, with a wide range of clinical presentations and most often it is caused by various viral, bacterial or fungal infections.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 27 year-old man, previously hospitalized due to streptococcal tonsillitis, was admitted to ED because of chest pain. He presented with pain, tightness irradiating to both shoulders and arms and associated sweating and vomiting. The ECG revealed ST elevations on Leads: V5-V6, V7-V9, II, III, AVF and ST depressions on Leads V1-V3. Laboratory results showed elevated Liver enzymes, and positive troponin-5.766 ng/mL The patient showed clinical improvement with NSAIDs and was diagnosed with myocarditis. His brother was admitted to the hospital a year earlier with a sore throat accompanied by chest pain and was diagnosed with perimyocarditis.

CONCLUSIONS

The family history of myocarditis after a streptococcal infection, affecting two brothers a year apart from each other, raises the possibility that there is a genetic component responsible for an individuaLs susceptibility to develop myocarditis.