Abstract 5936: Can Apoptosis Predict Functional Recovery in Acute Myocarditis?

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Abbate ◽  
Gianfranco Sinagra ◽  
Rossana Bussani ◽  
Nicholas N Hoke ◽  
Stefano Toldo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Acute Myocarditis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Causal Association ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Cytokeratin 18 ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Background. Acute myocarditis is characterized by acute cardiac dysfunction followed by a variable recovery over time. Recent data have shown the presence of apoptosis in acute myocarditis. We hypothesized that the presence and extent of apoptosis evaluated at endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) could predict functional recovery in patients with acute myocarditis, with more apoptosis predicting less recovery. Methods. Sixteen patients with acute myocarditis were studied with EMB. Baseline and follow up echocardiography was obtained in all cases. The patients were retrospectively divided in 2 groups according to the final left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): LVEF>40% [recovery] and LVEF≤40% [no recovery]. Co-staining for DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) and caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 (CytoDeath) were performed to quantify the cardiomyocyte apoptosis in EMB specimens. Four subjects dying of non-cardiac causes were selected as control hearts at time of autopsy. Results. Six patients showed functional recovery (38%) while 8 did not (62%). The apoptotic rate (AR, expressed as % of double positive cardiomyocytes on total number per field) was significantly higher in the hearts of patients with acute myocarditis (1.1%[0.7–2.2] vs 0.01%[0.01–0.01] in control hearts, p<0.001). Unexpectedly, patients with functional recovery had a significantly higher AR than patients without recovery (3.2%[1.1–8.0] vs 0.5%[0.3–1.0], p=0.001), and the AR correlated with follow-up LVEF (R=+0.54, p=0.030). Six of the 8 patients (75%) with AR above average showed functional recovery vs 0 of the 8 patients (0%) with AR below average (p=0.007). Conclusions. This study surprisingly shows that the presence of greater apoptosis at EBM in patients with acute myocarditis predicts functional recovery at 12 months. Whether this represents a true cause-effect association or it simply represents a non-causal association remains unclear and warrants further studies.

scholarly journals The Diagnostic and Prognostic Utility of Contemporary Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Suspected Acute Myocarditis

Diagnostics ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Jakub Lagan ◽  
Christien Fortune ◽  
David Hutchings ◽  
Joshua Bradley ◽  
Josephine H. Naish ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Acute Myocarditis ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Parametric Mapping ◽  
The Impact

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is used to investigate suspected acute myocarditis, however most supporting data is retrospective and few studies have included parametric mapping. We aimed to investigate the utility of contemporary multiparametric CMR in a large prospective cohort of patients with suspected acute myocarditis, the impact of real-world variations in practice, the relationship between clinical characteristics and CMR findings and factors predicting outcome. 540 consecutive patients we recruited. The 113 patients diagnosed with myocarditis on CMR performed within 40 days of presentation were followed-up for 674 (504–915) days. 39 patients underwent follow-up CMR at 189 (166–209) days. CMR provided a positive diagnosis in 72% of patients, including myocarditis (40%) and myocardial infarction (11%). In multivariable analysis, male sex and shorter presentation-to-scan interval were associated with a diagnosis of myocarditis. Presentation with heart failure (HF) was associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), higher LGE burden and higher extracellular volume fraction. Lower baseline LVEF predicted follow-up LV dysfunction. Multiparametric CMR has a high diagnostic yield in suspected acute myocarditis. CMR should be performed early and include parametric mapping. Patients presenting with HF and reduced LVEF require closer follow-up while those with normal CMR may not require it.

Assessment of trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction in the Herceptin Adjuvant (HERA) Trial with 3.6 years median follow- up

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 540-540
Author(s):  
M. J. Procter ◽  
T. Suter ◽  
E. de Azamuja ◽  
S. Muehlbauer ◽  
U. Dafni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Period ◽  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Group Randomized Trial ◽  
Neo Adjuvant Chemotherapy

540 Background: The Herceptin Adjuvant (HERA) Trial is a three-group randomized trial that compared 1 year or 2 years trastuzumab with observation. We investigated cardiac dysfunction in HERA patients randomized to observation or 1 year trastuzumab and report results at a median follow-up of 3.6 years. Methods: Only patients who after completion of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF > 55%) were eligible. Cardiac function was monitored throughout the trial. A repeat LVEF assessment was required in case of cardiac dysfunction. Results: There were 1,698 patients randomized to observation and 1,703 randomized to 1 year trastuzumab. The incidence of discontinuation of trastuzumab due to cardiac disorders was low (5.1%). The incidence of cardiac endpoints was low (severe CHF 0.77% in the trastuzumab group). The incidence of cardiac endpoints was higher in the trastuzumab group compared to observation (severe CHF 0.77% vs 0.00%; confirmed significant LVEF drops 3.57% vs 0.64%). In the trastuzumab group, there were no occurrences of severe CHF after the end of the scheduled treatment period of 1 year. Among the patients in the trastuzumab group with confirmed significant LVEF drop, the first occurrence was within the scheduled treatment period of 1 year for 55 out of 60 patients (91.7%). In the trastuzumab group, 59 of 73 patients (80.8%) with a cardiac endpoint reached acute recovery and of these 59 patients 52 (88.1%) were consider to have a favourable long term outcome. Conclusions: The incidence of cardiac endpoints remains low even with longer term follow-up. The cumulative incidence of any type of cardiac endpoint increases during the scheduled treatment period of 1 year, but appears to remain approximately constant after the scheduled treatment period of 1 year is completed. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Impact of cardio-oncology strategies in the management of breast cancer patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Karmous ◽  
E Bennour ◽  
I Kammoun ◽  
A Sghaier ◽  
W Chaieb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Mean Delay ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Cardio-oncology has arisen as one of the most rapidly expanding fields of cardiovascular medicine. The accumulated evidence on the possibilities of early diagnosis of cardiotoxicity provided by imaging techniques as well as on the benefits of preventive and therapeutic interventions is also increasing. Objective This study reported our echocardiography lab's initial experience of a cardio-oncology follow-up program. Methods We prospectively studied the outcomes of 107 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who attended our follow-up program between 2017 and 2020. An echocardiographic monitoring were realised according to the chemotherapy protocol. Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is defined, according to the european society of cardiology (ESC) guidelines of 2016, as a drop of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by &gt;10 percentage points from baseline to a value &lt;50%. A new entity named subclinical systolic dysfunction, is defined by a drop of global longitudinal strain (GLS) by &gt;15% from baseline, however, LVEF remains &gt;50%. The diagnosis should be confirmed by a second echocardiogram after 2–3 weeks. Results We enrolled 107 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving anthracycline and/or trastuzumab. 27 patients were excluded for many reasons: 17 patients were lost to follow-up, 10 patients had an inadequate echo-imaging (8 had a follow-up without measurement of GLS and 2 patients were poorly echogenic). Only eighty patients were finally retained. The average age of our patients was 49.9±10.8 years. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was at 64±4.4%. The incidence of CTRCD was 6%. the mean delay of diagnosis from the onset of chemotherapy was 174 days. It was reversible in 60% of cases after the initiation of a cardioprotective treatment which allowed the anti-cancer treatment pursuit. The incidence of subclinical cardiac dysfunction was 25%. The mean delay between the initiation of anti-cancer treatment and the diagnosis was 314.5 days. A cardioprotective treatment with Bblockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors was prescribed and all these patients recovered a normal GLS with a mean delay of three months and pursuied their chemotherapy. Conclusion We showed that timely cardiovascular evaluation, intervention and close monitoring in the context of a structured service allowed the majority of patients (99%) to pursue their anti-cancer treatment and to avoid the evolution to CTRCD in patients diagnosed with subclinical cardiac dysfunction. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Treated subclinical cardiac dysfunction

Anthracycline associated cardiotoxicity in a sub-Saharan African population - tertiary care experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Odunga Abuodha ◽  
Asim Jamal Shaikh ◽  
Jasmit Shah ◽  
Mohamed Jeilan ◽  
Anders Barasa
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Standard Dose ◽  
Global Longitudinal Strain ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
African Population ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Anthracyclines are associated with irreversible cardiotoxicity, with changes in echocardiographic parameters preceding clinically manifest cardiac dysfunction. We sought to evaluate the incidence of early cardiac dysfunction post anthracyclines, and associated clinical, echocardiographic and treatment parameters in a sub-Saharan African population. Methods Cancer patients aged ≥18years at anthracycline initiation with archived baseline echocardiograms, underwent repeat echocardiographic assessment. Cases (with cardiac dysfunction) had (1) >15% relative decline from baseline in global longitudinal strain (GLS), or (2) a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline to <53% with either (i) symptoms (assessed by the Duke Activity Status Index at follow-up echocardiogram) and LVEF decline by >5 to ≤10%, or (ii) LVEF decline >10% regardless of symptoms. Comparisons in clinical, echocardiographic and treatment parameters were made with controls (no cardiac dysfunction). Results Among 141 patients (mean age, 47.7years ± 11.2, Africans 95%, females 85.1%, breast cancer 82%), 39 (27.7%) had cardiac dysfunciton at a mean inter-echocardiogram interval of 14.9months ± 14.3, mean cumulative anthracycline dose of 244.7mg/m 2 ± 72.2, and mean DASI score was 50.0 ± 13.3. Mean cardiotoxic doxorubicin equivalence dose was 236.7mg/m 2 ± 57.4 for cases and 217.3 ± 61.9 for controls [p = 0.033, OR = 1.00 (95% CI: 0.99 - 1.01)]. The assessed clinical, echocardiographic and treatment parameters were not associated with cardiac dysfunction. Conclusion Incidence of early cardiac dysfunction after standard dose anthracyclines in an adult Sub-Saharan population is 27.7% at a mean follow-up of 14.9 months post anthracycline. Routine pre- and post-exposure cardiac assessment should be considered.

scholarly journals 614 Implantable cardiac monitors predict arrhythmic events in post-infarction patients with mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Riverso ◽  
Antonio Curcio ◽  
Alessia Tempestini ◽  
Emilia De Luca ◽  
Sabrina La Bella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
St Segment ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Abstract Aims Complications of acute myocardial infarction (MI) can be life-threatening leading to sudden cardiac death. While guidelines recommend prompt revascularization and prolonged intensive care hospitalization, predictors of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes are yet poorly understood. The role of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, even in cases of non-sustained arrhythmias is still debated. To date, it is unknown how to follow-up patients with mild cardiac dysfunction after MI. Implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) can be helpful for stratifying patients in the early discharge period, and remote monitoring might speed up arrhythmia recognition and treatment. We investigated the role of remote monitoring of ICMs to detect arrhythmic events in post-MI patients without overt cardiac dysfunction. Methods and results We enrolled 13 patients (9 males; 69.8 years) after either ST-segment (N = 7) or non-ST-segment elevation (N = 6) MI with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) &gt;35%, admitted to our coronary care unit for urgent revascularization between September 2019 and September 2021. Twelve patients underwent percutaneous myocardial revascularization, whereas one was treated with medical therapy only. All patients received an ICM during hospitalization according to echo and EKG parameters. We considered LVEF ≤ 40% as sole risk factor or LVEF between 40% and 50% in addition to either PQ length prolongation, or QRS widening, or pathologic heart rate variability, or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia/paroxysmal advanced second degree atrioventricular block. Patients with multiple revascularization procedures and several hospital admissions were excluded. Implanted ICM were frequently monitored both remotely and in-office when required. During follow-up, brady- and tachy-arrhythmias were recorded in four patients (30.8%). The remote monitoring of the ICM documented new-onset atrial fibrillation, high-degree atrioventricular block, severe bradycardia, and sustained ventricular tachycardia. Three patients required hospitalization and upgrade of the implanted device with pacemakers and cardioverter/defibrillator. For arrhythmic risk stratification, patients were divided into two subgroups; group A included patients with LVEF 40% associated with heart rate &gt; 60 b.p.m., PQ length &gt;160 ms and QRS width &gt;86 ms (N = 4); group B included patients with EF 41%/50%, PQ length &lt;159 and QRS width &lt;85 ms (N = 10). First group experienced more advanced rhythm disorders than group B (P &lt; 0.05). Device implantation was significantly higher in group A (P &lt; 0.05%). Conclusions OFF-label implementation of ICMs coupled with remote device monitoring may be effective for early detection of serious adverse cardiac rhythm alterations in patients after MI and LVEF higher than 35%. Further monitoring is ongoing for assessing the occurrence of multiple arrhythmias or their increased occurrence.

scholarly journals Predictors of unfavorable course of acute myocarditis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-256
Author(s):  
S. V. Cherniuk
Keyword(s):  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Acute Myocarditis ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Systolic Strain ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Early prediction of myocarditis clinical course still remains one of the actual tasks of cardiological science, which has a significant practical value. The purpose of the study was to determine the predictors of unfavorable course of myocarditis with reduced ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (LV) on the basis of follow-up during 24 months. The study included 90 patients with acute myocarditis and reduced LV EF, who were examined in the first month after the disease onset, after 6, 12 and 24 months of follow-up. All patients underwent for echocardiography, Holter monitoring of the electrocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Statistical processing of the results was performed using the Excel XP software (Місrosoft Office, USA) and Statistica for Windows v. 6.0 (Statsoft, USA). It was found that restoration of cardiac contractility in patients with myocarditis and reduced LV EF began with an increase in the index of LV longitudinal global systolic strain, which occurred 6 months after the debut of the disease and was associated with a decrease in the number of LV segments affected by the inflammatory process, and a significant increase of LV EF and a decrease of LV end-diastolic volume were observed only 1 year after the disease onset. The predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocarditis during the next 24 months from the onset of the disease, were detected in the 1st month from the debut of the disease and included following pathological changes: value of the LV EF ≤ 30%; reduction of LV longitudinal global systolic strain ≤ 7.0%; evidence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, presence of inflammatory changes in ≥6 LV segments, presence of delayed enhancement in ≥ 5 LV segments. Prospects for further research are the creation of registries of patients with myocarditis on the basis of multicenter clinical trial results on a large number of patients surveyed in order to improve diagnosis, prediction of clinical course and identification of early diagnostic markers of cardiovascular events and quantitative risk assessment of their development.

scholarly journals D-Dimer is a Predictive Factor of Cancer Therapeutics-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Patients Treated With Cardiotoxic Chemotherapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayoshi Oikawa ◽  
Daiki Yaegashi ◽  
Tetsuro Yokokawa ◽  
Tomofumi Misaka ◽  
Takamasa Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Independent Predictor ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Cancer Associated Thrombosis ◽  
D Dimer

Abstract Background: D-dimer is a sensitive biomarker for cancer-associated thrombosis, but little is known about its significance on cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Methods: Consecutive 169 patients planned for cardiotoxic chemotherapy were enrolled and followed up for 12 months. All patients underwent echocardiography and blood test at baseline, as well as at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month. Results: The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the level of D-dimer (> 1.65 µg/ml or ≦ 1.65 µg/ml) at baseline before chemotherapy: High D-dimer group (n = 37) and low D-dimer group (n = 132). Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) decreased at 3-month and 6-month after chemotherapy in high D-dimer group (baseline, 65.2% [62.8%-71.4%]; 3-month, 62.9% [59.0%-67.7%]; 6-month, 63.1% [60.0%-67.1%]; 12-month, 63.3% [58.8%-66.0%], P = 0.03), but no change was observed in low D-dimer group. The occurrence of CTRCD within the 12-month follow-up period was higher in high D-dimer group than in low D-dimer group (16.2% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.0146). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that high D-dimer level at baseline was an independent predictor of the development of CTRCD (odds ratio 3.93, 95% CI [1.00-15.82], P = 0.047). Conclusion: Elevated D-dimer is a pivotal biomarker to predict CTRCD.

scholarly journals Clinical history of acute myocarditis in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
V. M. Kovalenko ◽  
E. G. Nesukay ◽  
S. V. Cherniuk ◽  
R. M. Kirichenko ◽  
N. S. Titova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Tachycardia ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Cardiac Rhythm ◽  
Acute Myocarditis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction

The aim – to investigate the dynamic changes of the structural and functional state of the heart and the persistence of cardiac rhythm disorders in patients with acute myocarditis with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) during 6 months of follow-up. Materials and methods. 54 patients with acute myocarditis and preserved LV EF (> 40 %) of the left ventricle (LV) were screened. The examination was performed twice: in the first month from the debut of myocarditis and in 6 months of follow-up. Results and discussion. According to data obtained by CMR, in the 1st month from the disease onset, the early contrast on T1-weighted images and/or the high intensity of the signal on T2 images were detected in all patients, with their percentage being 66.6 % and 62.9 % respectively, and late enhancement was observed in 14.8 % of cases. After 6 months of observation, edema and myocardial hyperemia were detected only in 7.4 and 9.2 % of cases, and fibrotic changes were in 37.0 % of patients, while 59.2 % of patients had no pathological changes on CMR at all. The average number of affected by inflammatory changes LV segments in the 1st month was 2.33±0.23, and after 6 months it decreased to 1.43±0.17 segments (р<0.01). The value of LV EF increased from 47.3±2.3 % in the 1st month to 56.2±2.5 % after 6 months (р<0.05) of follow-up, and detection of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) episodes decreased from 20.4 % cases in the 1st month to 7.4 % of cases after 6 months. According to the results of the correlation analysis, a strong direct correlation was established between the number of LV segments involved in the inflammatory process in the 1st month from the myocarditis onset (r=0.81, р<0.01) as also after 6 months (r=0.72; р<0.01) and the presence of NSVT episodes, that was also confirmed by determining the exact Fisher criterion (p=0.019), statistically reliable correlations of the same direction were also established between the presence of NSVT episodes and fibrotic changes on cardiac MRI. Conclusions. For patients with acute myocarditis with a preserved LV EF, the absence of severe violations of the LV contractile function is characterized by a small amount of inflammatory lesions of myocardium. Clinically significant cardiac rhythm disorders, in particular episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, can be observed in these patients in the absence of significant violations of the structural and functional heart state and are associated with a greater number of LV segments affected by inflammatory and fibrotic changes.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: Is it more than just cerebral vasoconstriction?

Cephalalgia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 631-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seby John ◽  
Rula A Hajj-Ali ◽  
David Min ◽  
Leonard H Calabrese ◽  
Russell Cerejo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Cerebral Vasoconstriction ◽  
Artery Disease

Background Systemic vascular alterations have not been described in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). We present a case series of RCVS patients having cardiac dysfunction during ictus, with a subset showing complete resolution of cardiomyopathy. Methods Retrospective case-series: Cardiac left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion abnormalities (WMA) visualized on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), performed during RCVS ictus and follow-up was analyzed. Results Of 68 patients, 18 (26%) had a TTE performed around ictus. Three of 18 (17%) patients demonstrated WMA on initial TTE. All three patients were female without previous coronary artery disease or heart failure, and were asymptomatic from the cardiac dysfunction. WMA resolved completely on follow-up in Patients 1 and 2. Global LV dysfunction persisted for at least 90 days in Patient 3. Conclusion Although the exact pathophysiology of the cardiomyopathy is uncertain, it may be related to localized coronary vasoconstriction causing myocardial ischemia/infarction. Vasoconstriction may not be limited to the cerebral vasculature and may involve extracerebral organs. Cardiac ventricular abnormalities may be a part of the RCVS spectrum.

P5276A prospective pilot study to identify a myocarditis cohort who may safely resume sports activities 3 months after diagnosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Patriki ◽  
N Baltensperger ◽  
L T Cooper ◽  
C K Kissel ◽  
J Kottwitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myocarditis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Exercise Stress ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Return To Sports ◽  
Cardiac Events ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
Holter Ecg ◽  
Sports Activities

Abstract Background Sports activities may promote arrhythmias in the setting of acute myocarditis. International cardiovascular society recommendations to return to sports activities following acute myocarditis are based on expert consensus in the absence of prospective studies. Purpose We sought to identify patients who may safely resume sports activities 3 months after acute myocarditis. Methods We prospectively enrolled 27 patients with newly diagnosed myocarditis based on clinical parameters, elevated high sensitive troponin (TnT-hs) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with mildly reduced or preserved LVEF. Follow-up examination included laboratory findings, electrocardiogram (ECG), 48-hour-Holter ECG, echocardiography, exercise stress testing and CMR. Cessation of physical activity was recommended for 3 months. All patients were followed for cardiac events for 12 months. Results Average age was 35 (19–80) years with 73% male patients. All patients performed 3- and 6-month follow-up with above mentioned diagnostic tests. Eight patients did not present for 12-month follow-up, but were contacted by phone. No cardiac events occurred within the interval of 12 months. After 3 months, participants achieved an average of 92% of predicted maximum power on stress test. One case of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was recorded during 48-hour-Holter ECG. Except for this case, all patients were allowed to resume physical exercise after 3 months. At 6- (n=26) and 12-month (n=19) follow-up no arrhythmias, recurrent myocarditis, worsening left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or physical performance were recorded. TnT-hs, creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin (Mb), and C-reactive protein (CRP) normalized. Conclusion The risk of cardiac events and decreasing LVEF appears to be low after early resumption of exercise in asymptomatic patients who recover from acute myocarditis. Acknowledgement/Funding Forschungskredit of the University of Zurich,the Holcim Foundation, the Hartmann Müller Foundation, and the Walter and Gertrud Siegenthaler Foundation

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