Аннотация:The article summarizes the controversial aspects of diagnosis and treatment of myocarditis and cardiomyopathies. We dis- cuss the difficulties in distinguishing dilated cardiomyopathy from myocarditis and the role of various diagnostic methods (i.e., polymerase chain reaction, microscopy, immunohisto- chemistry, magnetic resonance imaging) in differential diag- nosis. The relative importance of viremia and the presence of viral genome in the myocardium (both of which can be found in apparently healthy people) is considered, with myocardial biopsy thought to be the “gold standard”. The modern clinical and morphological classifications are listed. We also mention the paucity of prognostic markers for recovery and differ- ences in myocarditis phenotypes according to the geographic regions. As well as discussing the role of corticosteroids in the management of such patients we present the evidence for and against the use of antiviral drugs such as interferons in the treatment of myocarditis. Also the findings of concomi- nant myocardial involvement in HCV and HIV infection are examined in view of the possibly positive impact of specific treatment regimens.