Echocardiographic findings in fulminant and acute myocarditis
Key result
Fulminant myocarditis linked to ~11% higher fractional shortening at six months vs acute myocarditis.
- P<0.01
- n=54
Why the study?
The clinical course of patients with myocarditis remains poorly defined, prompting assessment of whether echocardiography can distinguish fulminant from acute myocarditis at presentation and evaluate potential for LV functional recovery.
Does echocardiography distinguish fulminant from acute myocarditis and predict recovery of left ventricular function?
Comparison
Fulminant myocarditis vs acute myocarditis
Design
Prospective cohort study
Follow-up
Six months
Authors
Discussion
Loading...
Member takes
Implication
Echocardiography can distinguish fulminant from acute myocarditis at presentation and demonstrates that fulminant myocarditis is associated with substantial recovery of ventricular function at 6 months.
Key Points
- The aim is to assess the differences in left ventricular function recovery between fulminant and acute myocarditis patients using echocardiography.
- Echocardiography was conducted at presentation and at six months.
- A total of 54 patients were evaluated: 11 with fulminant myocarditis and 43 with acute myocarditis.
- Morphological distinctions between the two types of myocarditis were tested.
- Patients with fulminant myocarditis showed improved fractional shortening at six months (30 +/- 8%) compared to acute myocarditis (19 +/- 7%, p < 0.01).
- Fulminant myocarditis had near-normal LV diastolic dimensions (5.3 +/- 0.9 cm) but increased septal thickness (1.2 +/- 0.2 cm).
- Acute myocarditis exhibited increased diastolic dimensions (6.1 +/- 0.8 cm, p < 0.01) and normal septal thickness (1.0 +/- 0.1 cm, p = 0.01).
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=54)
Structured PICO
Does echocardiography distinguish fulminant from acute myocarditis and predict recovery of left ventricular function?
P
Population
54 patients with fulminant (n=11) or acute (n=43) myocarditis evaluated by echocardiography at presentation and at six months.
E
Exposure
Echocardiography at presentation and at six months
C
Comparator
Fulminant myocarditis versus acute myocarditis
O
Outcome
Left ventricular function (fractional shortening) and morphology (diastolic dimensions, septal thickness) at presentation and 6 monthssurrogate
Main Result
Absolute Event Rate: 30% vs 19%
p-value: p=<0.01
Echocardiography can distinguish fulminant from acute myocarditis at presentation and demonstrates that fulminant myocarditis is associated with substantial recovery of ventricular function at 6 months.
Cite This Study
Felker et al. (2000) conducted an observational in Fulminant and acute myocarditis (n=54). Fulminant myocarditis vs. Acute myocarditis was evaluated on Fractional shortening at six months (p=<0.01). Fulminant myocarditis was associated with a dramatic improvement in fractional shortening at six months (30%) compared with acute myocarditis (19%, p<0.01 for interaction).