Is improvement of the left ventricular systolic function in patients with new-onset dilated cardiomyopathy related to the presence of virus or inflammation in endomycardial biopsy?

Abstract

The analysis of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) specimens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry currently represent a gold standard for diagnostics of inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the prognostic significance of viral and /or myocardial inflammation persistence.