MRI for characterization of cardiac function in suspected myocarditis as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19

Among COVID-19 induced cardiac complications, myocarditis has clinical significance because it can result in permanent myocardial damage which leads to poor outcome. In this study, we studied 65 consecutive COVID-19 patients who underwent cardiac MRI post COVID-19 due to concerns of post-COVID myocarditis or other cardiomyopathies, where MRI was used to identify suspected versus excluded myocarditis based on LGE and T1/ECV/T2 mappings. The results demonstrated the value of MRI systolic strain and diastolic strain rate as sensitive markers for early detection of subclinical cardiac dysfunction and characterizing the heart contractility pattern in high-risk patients with suspected myocarditis versus excluded myocarditis.