Key result
GDMT and ~3 months of rest allow safe return to play after myocarditis in athlete.
Why the study?
Return-to-play decisions for professional athletes presenting with arrhythmias are challenging, particularly when the underlying diagnosis remains uncertain.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights the complexity of return-to-play decisions in athletes with arrhythmias and suspected myocarditis, emphasizing individualized evaluation and shared decision-making over rigid timelines.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support individualized return-to-play after rest and GDMT in select athletes with suspected myocarditis and PVCs; single case leaves open need for prospective validation.
BACKGROUND: Return-to-play (RTP) decisions for professional athletes with arrhythmias are challenging, particularly when the diagnosis is uncertain. CASE SUMMARY: A 33-year-old professional football player presented for RTP evaluation of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and atypical chest pain. Work-up was significant for fragmented R waves and PVCs on electrocardiogram as well as late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Positron emission tomography scan was normal. These findings suggested possible subacute myocarditis. He elected to rest for 2 to 3 months and was treated with guideline-directed medical therapy. Risk stratification highlighted increased risks associated with late gadolinium enhancement and incomplete genetic evaluation, though PVC morphology and normal positron emission tomography scan supported a favorable risk profile. DISCUSSION: This case underscores the complexity of RTP decisions in athletes with arrhythmias of uncertain etiology, emphasizing individualized evaluation. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Real-world RTP decisions often do not align with diagnostic pathways; clinicians must integrate clinical data, athlete goals, and evolving evidence.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Pirquet et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Premature ventricular contractions and subacute myocarditis (n=1). Guideline-directed medical therapy and rest was evaluated. A 33-year-old professional football player with PVCs and suspected subacute myocarditis safely returned to play without complications after 2 to 3 months of rest and guideline-directed medical therapy.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: