Correlation of extent of echogenicity with histologic markers of myocarditis.

<p><b>(A)</b> von Kossa (left panels), hematoxylin and eosin (center panels), and picrosirius red (right panels) stains are shown from a representative uninfected and infected wild type mouse heart. In each case, abnormal staining was only present in infected mouse hearts. <b>(B)</b> The extent of von Kossa staining was quantitated as a percent of the total myocardial area that was von Kossa positive. The inflammation score was determined using a semi-quantitative scoring system (0–4) as previously described (12). Extent of fibrosis, as determined by picrosirius red staining, is expressed as a percent of total myocardial area. As shown in panel B, there was a significant correlation between extent of myocardial echogenicity and area of von Kossa staining, inflammation score, and fibrosis.