Natural history of left ventricular function in neonatal Coxsackie myocarditis.

Three neonates are described who had severe congestive cardiac failure following Coxsackie-B virus infection. Overall left ventricular function was depressed and accompanied by regional differences in wall motion. Recovery has been gradual, and after 40 or more months of follow-up, all three infants still have evidence of myocardial damage. This provides further evidence linking myocarditis with dilated cardiomyopathy.