COVID-19 vs. Classical Myocarditis Associated Myocardial Injury Evaluated by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Endomyocardial Biopsy

Background: Despite the ongoing global pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac structure and function is still not completely understood. Myocarditis is a rare but potentially serious complication of other viral infections with variable recovery, and is, in some cases, associated with long-term cardiac remodeling and functional impairment.Aim: To assess myocardial injury in patients who recently recovered from an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection with advanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).Methods: In total, 32 patients with persistent cardiac symptoms after a COVID-19 infection, 22 patients with acute classic myocarditis not related to COVID-19, and 16 healthy volunteers were included in this study and underwent a comprehensive baseline CMR scan. Of these, 10 patients post COVID-19 and 13 with non-COVID-19 myocarditis underwent a follow-up scan. In 10 of the post-COVID-19 and 15 of the non-COVID-19 patients with myocarditis endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) with histological, immunohistological, and molecular analysis was performed.Results: In total, 10 (31%) patients with COVID-19 showed evidence of myocardial injury, eight (25%) presented with myocardial oedema, eight (25%) exhibited global or regional systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, and nine (28%) exhibited impaired right ventricular (RV) function. However, only three (9%) of COVID-19 patients fulfilled updated CMR–Lake Louise criteria (LLC) for acute myocarditis. Regarding EMB, none of the COVID-19 patients but 87% of the non-COVID-19 patients with myocarditis presented histological findings in keeping with acute or chronic inflammation. COVID-19 patients with severe disease on the WHO scale presented with reduced biventricular longitudinal function, increased RV mass, and longer native T1 times compared with those with only mild or moderate disease.Conclusions: In our cohort, CMR and EMB findings revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with relatively mild but variable cardiac involvement. More symptomatic COVID-19 patients and those with higher clinical care demands were more likely to exhibit chronic inflammation and impaired cardiac function compared to patients with milder forms of the disease.

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Staphylococcus aureus Myocarditis with Associated Left Ventricular Apical Thrombus

Case Reports in Cardiology ◽

10.1155/2018/7017286 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michael McGee ◽

Emily Shiel ◽

Stephen Brienesse ◽

Stuart Murch ◽

Robert Pickles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Acute Myocarditis ◽

Complete Recovery ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Mural Thrombus ◽

Intravenous Antibiotics ◽

Discharge From Hospital

Staphylococcus aureus myocarditis is a rare diagnosis with a high mortality rate, usually seen in people who are immunocompromised. Here, we report a case of a 44-year-old man on methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis who presented in septic shock and was diagnosed with staphylococcus aureus myocarditis. The myocarditis was associated with a left ventricular apical thrombus, with normal systolic function. The myocarditis and associated thrombus were characterised on transthoracic echocardiogram and subsequently on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging showed oedema in the endomyocardium, consistent with acute myocarditis, associated with an apical mural thrombus. Repeat CMR 3 weeks following discharge from hospital showed marked improvement in endomyocardial oedema and complete resolution of the apical mural thrombus. He was treated with a 12-week course of antibiotics and anticoagulated with apixaban. The patient was successfully managed with intravenous antibiotics and anticoagulation with complete recovery.

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Optimal timing of follow-up cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with acute myocarditis

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.1754 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

M Ciabatti ◽

L Ferri ◽

A Camporeale ◽

E Saletti ◽

M Chioccioli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Complete Resolution ◽

Time Course ◽

Acute Myocarditis ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Optimal Timing ◽

2D Echocardiography ◽

Prognostic Stratification

Abstract Background Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) plays a central role in the diagnosis, follow-up and prognostic stratification of acute myocarditis. Several CMR features, including the extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) at baseline, have been proposed as factors associated with a worse outcome. Recent studies evaluated temporal evolution of LGE and edema repeating CMR either at 6 months or at 12 months, demonstrating that persistence or worsening of LGE represents a negative prognostic marker. However, the time-course of edema resolution and LGE stabilization is currently unknown and therefore the optimal timing to repeat CMR for acute myocarditis prognostic stratification remains unclear. Purpose We aimed to assess the time course of edema and LGE evolution in order to identify the optimal timing to repeat CMR in patients with acute myocarditis. Methods We enrolled 36 patients with a diagnosis of acute myocarditis according to ESC position statement definition. All patients underwent CMR at clinical presentation (CMR-1), after 3–4 months (CMR-2) and after 12-months (CMR-3) follow-up. CMR evaluation included assessment of edema and LGE, and evaluation of structural and functional parameters including left (LVEF) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF), left (LVGLS) and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) and indexed left ventricular mass (iLVM). After CMR-3 all patients were followed-up by yearly clinical evaluation, electrocardiogram (ECG) and 2D-echocardiography. Results The mean age was 28,8±10,3 years with 35 (97%) being male. All patients showed edema and LGE at CMR-1 with a LVEF of 58,5±12,2. At CMR-2 a significant reduction of edema (T2 positive segments 0,4±0,9 vs. 4,1±3,2 p<0.0001) and LGE extent (LGE ≥5SD 5,1±5,3 vs. 9,6±8,4 p<0.0001) was observed, with only 3 patients showing edema persistence. A significant improvement of LVEF (62,7±5,6 vs. 58,5±12,2 p<0.05), RVGLS (−24,4±5,4 vs. −21,6±7,4 p<0.05), associated with a significant reduction of iLVM (71,2±13,7 vs 78,1±15,2 g/mq) was also observed. At CMR-3 no further significant reduction of LGE extent was observed with no further improvement of LVEF, RVGLS and iLVM. In the 3 patients with persisting edema at CMR-2, a complete resolution was observed at CMR-3. After a mean follow-up of 60±23 months, no major cardiovascular events nor myocarditis recurrences were observed, with no patients showing left ventricular dysfunction nor progression to dilated cardiomyopathy at 2D-echocardiography. Conclusions In most patients with acute myocarditis a complete resolution of the inflammatory process with LGE stabilization and normalization of left ventricular function and mass can be observed after 3–4 months. Further CMR assessment should limited to patients with persisting oedema at 3–4 months CMR. Our findings suggest to redefine the follow-up schedule and imaging-based prognostic stratification strategies in patients with acute myocarditis. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1

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

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics12010156 ◽

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.

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