Autoantibodies Against the Adenine Nucleotide Translocator in Myocarditis and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

The etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is unknown [1,2]. There are several possibly associated or conditioning factors [3], but there has lately been renewed interest in the notion that viral myocarditis (MC) may lead to DCM [4]. Clinical and experimental results give good evidence for a causal relation between these two diseases [5–8] and implicate an autoimmunologic process in the pathogenesis of MC and DCM [9–12]. Immunofluorescent methods have revealed an accumulation of gamma globulin bound to different cellular structures in the myocardium [13–15]. On the basis of our own studies we have suggested the existence of antimitochondrial antibodies in patients suffering from MC and DCM.