Clinical, Morphological and Functional Aspects in Myocarditis.

Clinical, Morphological and Functional Aspects in Acute and Chronic Myocarditis.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is accurate to identify acute myocardial damage (edema, hyperemia, and/or fibrosis) due to acute myocarditis (AM). Recently, two-dimensional strain echocardiography was also validated in order to provide important information on myocardial dysfunction in patients with AM, even if no wall motion abnormalities are detected. No data are available about incidence of longitudinal myocardial dysfunction and its prognostic role in AM.

In this study, the investigators will analyze the effect of acute myocarditis-induced damage on LV myocardial deformation and remodeling both in the acute myocarditis phase and follow-up period (about 2 years later). The investigators will use a combined approach including strain echocardiography to asses left ventricular myocardial deformation and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)cardiac magnetic resonance for the assessment of left ventricular damage.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of clinical suspected acute myocarditis (AM)
• diagnosis of AM with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) according to Lake Louise criteria (myocardial edema, hyperemia, and LGE).
• absence of coronary artery diseases confirmed by coronary angiography or computed tomography in all patients with the exception of those younger than 30 years with a low risk of coronary artery disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous heart diseases