Cardiomyopathy in First-Degree Relatives of Patients Presenting With Acute Myocarditis: Prevalence and Prognostic Significance

Acute myocarditis has been genetically linked to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but the clinical significance remains uncertain. We investigated the prevalence and long-term prognosis of DCM and heart failure (HF) among unselected patients hospitalized with acute myocarditis and their first-degree relatives compared with an age- and sex-matched cohort.