Clinical and magnetic resonance evolution of 'infarct-like' myocarditis

To analyse the clinical and magnetic resonance evolution of myocarditis in patients with an “infarct-like” presentation pattern. The study is a retrospective analysis of 52 patients with clinical diagnosis of “infarct-like” myocarditis confirmed by CMR as acute myocarditis according to Lake Louise criteria and 6 months follow-up. The CMR protocol included T2-weighted (oedema), early (hyperaemia) and late (fibrosis/necrosis) gadolinium enhancement sequences, according to Lake Louise criteria. Clinical and radiological follow-up by CMR was performed after a median time interval of 6 months (interquartile range 5–8). Quantitative outcomes were checked for normality and compared with the non-parametric Wilcoxon’s test for matched data. At the clinical follow-up all patients were free of symptoms and reported no cardiac complications. The CMR follow-up evidenced a significant increase of the ejection fraction (from 53 ± 6 to 55 ± 4%, p = 0.03), a decrease of the ventricular mass [from 67.0 (58.8–79.0) to 61.0 (54.0–67.0), p