Other Tests

The following tests are useful in identifying end organ dysfunction and enabling effective resuscitative measures to be instituted early if required:

  • Full blood count
  • Urea and creatinine
  • Liver function tests
  • Clotting
  • Serum calcium
  • Blood glucose
  • Arterial blood gas analysis

In addition blood cultures should be sent in a febrile patient.

Antimyosin cardiac imaging to demonstrate areas of cardiac myocyte necrosis and cardiac CT or MRI are all being used increasingly to investigate patients with suspected myocarditis. These are unlikely to be available as first line investigations to the emergency physician. Serological tests may be required to identify the cause of the myocarditis.