Gerald Gahide, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Edouard Gerbaud, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sebastien Bommart MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michel Montaudon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Helene Vernhet-Kovacsik MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Francois H. Laurent MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the natural history of functional, morphological and tissular cardiac changes at mid-term follow-up and their relationship to individual outcomes

Prospective two-center study of consecutive patients presenting an acute myocarditis with initial MR study demonstrating sub-epicardial or nodular late enhancement. Initial and follow-up MR study protocols included: T2-STIR, ECG triggered standard cine sequences, first-pass myocardial perfusion images during the first passage of Gd-DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg), and delayed contrast-enhanced images after a 10-min delay (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany).

Twenty-six patients (11 women) were included (mean age : 47.1 ± 19.6 years ). Initial MR demonstrated a sub epicardial late-enhancement for 19 patients and a nodular late-enhancement for 7 patients. Fourteen patients presented a T2 hyperintense signal in the same areas. The mean left ventricle ejection fraction was 53.5 % ± 13.6. At follow-up control (9.4 ± 5.1 months), nodular enhancements were morphologically and volumetrically unchanged, with sharper outline for the 7 patients (100%). Sub-epicardial delayed enhancement were persistent for 14 patients (73.6%) with a mean volume reduction of 16.3 ± 11.4%. Spontaneous T2 hypersignal had disappeared for 13 patients (92.8%). The mean left ventricle ejection fraction improved to 60.3 % ± 9.6. All patients were clinically asymptomatic and none of them had worsened his left ventricle ejection fraction

Myocarditis associated delayed-enhancement seem to persist chronically for 80.8% of the patients in spite of clinical and functional apparent improvement

Cardiac lesions depicted on MR scan doesn't seem correlated with cardiac dysfunction at mid-term follow-up

Gahide, G, Gerbaud, E, Bommart, S, Montaudon, M, Vernhet-Kovacsik, H, Laurent, F, Initial and Follow-up MR Imaging Findings of Patients with MR Confirmed Acute Myocarditis.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5013027.html