Long-term follow-up of patients paragraph sign with acute myocarditis by magnetic paragraph sign resonance imaging

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Long-term follow-up of patients paragraph sign with acute myocarditis by magnetic paragraph sign resonance imaging
Creators Name:	Wagner, A. and Schulz-Menger, J. and Dietz, R. and Friedrich, M.G.
Abstract:	Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals cardiac signal intensity changes in patients with acute myocarditis; however, the natural history of these changes and their relationship to individual outcomes are unknown. The relationship of MRI findings to long-term outcome was studied by serial MRI studies in 16 patients with acute myocarditis who were followed for 30±4 (SE) months. Myocardial contrast enhancement was monitored using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted fast spin-echo images. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured with gradient-echo sequences. Clinical symptoms were scored. The results were compared to a control group of 26 age-matched, healthy volunteers. Myocardial contrast enhancement, which was markedly increased in the early course of the disease, decreased at 4 weeks and remained within the normal range in most patients after 30 months. Contrast enhancement 4 weeks after onset of symptoms was predictive for the functional and clinical long-term outcome. Contrast-enhanced MRI may be a useful, noninvasive tool for long-term follow-up of patients with acute myocarditis. Furthermore, relatively early MRI findings may predict longer-term outcomes.
Keywords:	Myocarditis, Magnetic resonance imaging, Prognosis, Follow-up
Source:	Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics Biology and Medicine
ISSN:	0968-5243
Publisher:	Springer
Volume:	16
Page Range:	17-20
Date:	1 January 2003
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-003-0007-7
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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