Anti-β-Adrenoceptor Autoantibodies with β-Adrenergic Agonistic Activity from Patients with Myocarditis and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

There exists considerable evidence from both clinical and experimental studies for an involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the latter being suspected to be in many cases a sequel of viral myocarditis [1]. This involvement of the immune system pertains to both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The present communication will be confined to a consideration of certain aspects of the humoral side of immunity in myocarditis and DCM, specifically to effects of a group of heart-reactive immunoglobulins (autoantibodies) that circulate in the serum of patients with these diseases.