Fatal myocarditis in a child with systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis during treatment with an interleukin 1 receptor antagonist

Abstract

Background: The pathologic diagnosis of isolated myocarditis without pericardial involvement is uncommonly encountered in systemic onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (soJIA).Case: An eleven year-old boy with soJIA died suddenly while being treated with the interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor inhibitor, anakinra. His autopsy revealed an enlarged heart and microscopic findings were consistent with myocarditis, but not pericarditis. Viral PCR testing performed on his myocardial tissue was negative.Conclusion: This case illustrates myocarditis as a fatal complication of soJIA, potentially enabled by anakinra. © 2012 Zeft et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.