PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Olbrich, H G
AU  - Herrmann, G
AU  - Vandeplassche, G
AU  - Michaelis, H
AU  - Schneider, M
AU  - Krause, E
AU  - Kober, G
TI  - Calcium overload in human giant cell myocarditis.
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.43.8.650
DP  - 1990 Aug 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 650--653
VI  - 43
IP  - 8
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/43/8/650.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/43/8/650.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol1990 Aug 01; 43
AB  - Myocardial calcium overload was observed in a patient with giant cell myocarditis. The myocardial calcium content estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry amounted to 120 mEq/kg dry weight, and the von Kossa stain disclosed multiple foci with patchy calcifications of myocardial fibres. Cytochemical examination of the ultrastructural calcium localisation using the phosphate-pyroantimonate method showed considerable variation in the subcellular calcium distribution. In normal myocytes calcium precipitates were confined to the inner leaflet of the sarcolemma, T-tubules, intercalated disks, and sporadically to mitochondria. In contrast, extensive calcification of mitochondria and loss of sarcolemmal calcium was evident in necrotic myocytes. A number of grossly normal myocytes also showed an increase of calcium precipitates in slightly swollen mitochondria. These findings suggest that myocardial calcium overload in this case started in viable myocytes and was not merely a secondary phenomenon occurring after cell death.