Bernhard, Benedikt; Schnyder, Aaron; Garachemani, Davide; Fischer, Kady; Tanner, Giulin; Safarkhanlo, Yasaman; Stark, Anselm W; Schütze, Jonathan; Pavlicek-Bahlo, Maryam; Greulich, Simon; Johner, Caroline; Wahl, Andreas; Benz, Dominik C; Kwong, Raymond Y; Gräni, Christoph (2023). Prognostic Value of Right Ventricular Function in Patients With Suspected Myocarditis Undergoing Cardiac Magnetic Resonance. JACC. Cardiovascular imaging, 16(1), pp. 28-41. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jcmg.2022.08.011
Text
1-s2.0-S1936878X2200496X-main.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (1MB) |
BACKGROUND
Risk-stratification of myocarditis is based on functional parameters and tissue characterization of the left ventricle (LV), whereas right ventricular (RV) involvement remains mostly unrecognized.
OBJECTIVES
In this study, the authors sought to analyze the prognostic value of RV involvement in myocarditis by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).
METHODS
Patients meeting the recommended clinical criteria for suspected myocarditis were enrolled at 2 centers. Exclusion criteria were the evidence of coronary artery disease, pulmonary artery hypertension or structural cardiomyopathy. Biventricular ejection fraction, edema according to T2-weighted images, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were linked to a composite end point of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including heart failure hospitalization, ventricular arrhythmia, recurrent myocarditis, and death.
RESULTS
Among 1,125 consecutive patients, 736 (mean age: 47.8 ± 16.1 years) met the clinical diagnosis of suspected myocarditis and were followed for 3.7 years. Signs of RV involvement (abnormal right ventricular ejection fraction [RVEF], RV edema, and RV-LGE) were present in 188 (25.6%), 158 (21.5%), and 92 (12.5%) patients, respectively. MACE occurred in 122 patients (16.6%) and was univariably associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), LV edema, LV-LGE, RV-LGE, RV edema, and RVEF. In a series of nesting multivariable Cox regression models, the addition of RVEF (HRadj: 0.974 [95% CI: 0.956-0.993]; P = 0.006) improved prognostication (chi-square test = 89.5; P = 0.001 vs model 1; P = 0.006 vs model 2) compared with model 1 including only clinical variables (chi-square test = 28.54) and model 2 based on clinical parameters, LVEF, and LV-LGE extent (chi-square test = 78.93).
CONCLUSIONS
This study emphasizes the role of RV involvement in myocarditis and demonstrates the independent and incremental prognostic value of RVEF beyond clinical variables, CMR tissue characterization, and LV function. (Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy Bern Registry [FlamBER]; NCT04774549; CMR Features in Patients With Suspected Myocarditis [CMRMyo]; NCT03470571).