New-Onset Heart Failure From Viral Myocarditis and Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report

An inflammatory cardiomyopathy is a form of nonischemic cardiomyopathy that results from myocarditis associated with cardiac dysfunction and ventricular remodeling. It can be caused by a wide array of pathogens and toxins. We present a case of a 69-year-old female with a history of asthma who was admitted to our facility with recurrent asthma exacerbations, likely triggered by viral upper respiratory tract infections. In 5 months, serial echocardiograms showed a significant decline in her left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Cardiac catheterization showed no clinically significant coronary artery disease. Despite normal renal function, her troponin remained elevated. This is an interesting case of a viral upper respiratory tract infection that led to myocarditis and ultimately resulted in inflammatory cardiomyopathy.