Mitral stenosis together with a giant cell myocarditis limited to the left atrium

A case is described in which mitral stenosis was associated with a giant cell myocarditis; the latter lesion was, however, localized to the left atrium. A quite high proportion of reported cases of giant cell myocarditis have occurred in association with rheumatic heart disease. The nature of this relationship is discussed and it is concluded that, in such cases, the giant cell reaction may represent an unusual myocardial response to rheumatic fever.