Hepatitis C and dilated cardiomyopathy.

In North America, viral infection is the most common cause of myocarditis. A number of common viral infections have been implicated. With the increased identification of patients with hepatitis C, there is recent evidence derived from myocardial molecular biology studies suggesting an association between HCV infection and the development of myocarditis. This may be followed by dilated cardiomyopathy. Primarily researchers overseas have supported the recognition of this association. We recently cared for a patient who appears to fulfill the clinical criteria of hepatitis C-induced cardiomyopathy.