What is a potential consequence of untreated myocarditis?

Untreated myocarditis can lead to a range of serious complications, one of the most critical being cardiac arrest. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle, often caused by infections or autoimmune diseases. When the heart muscle becomes inflamed, it can impair the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently, leading to a decrease in cardiac output. This decreased efficiency can result in arrhythmias, which are irregular heartbeats that can escalate to life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest.

When myocarditis is not treated, the progressive damage to the heart muscle can lead to heart failure, where the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation. This failure can precipitate sudden cardiac arrest if the electrical systems of the heart become disrupted. Recognizing and treating myocarditis promptly is critical to prevent these severe outcomes, particularly cardiac arrest, which poses a significant threat to life.