The case of Mike Kasperak differed from that of other transplant patients in the underlying cause of his heart disease. Kasperak, 54, was stricken with a severe viral inflammation of the heart (viral myocarditis) ten years ago. Recently the inflammation had not been active, but the heart had become enlarged, more scarred and fibrous. Kasperak (pronounced Ka-spair-ak) quit his job as a Cleveland steelworker and retired to East Palo Alto, Calif. After a November episode of heart failure, he was admitted to Stanford Medical Center on Jan. 5, in desperate plight. When Kasperak...
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