Diagnostic capabilities of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy: Comparison of its results with endomyocardial biopsy data and clinical picture

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICMP) and to compare its results with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) data and clinical and laboratory parameters/MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cardiac MRI was performed using the "Lake Louise Criteria" in 51 patients with ICMP and a 4.1±3.4-year history of chronic heart failure (CHF). EMB was carried out in 25 patients. Their clinical state was evaluated by the results of a 6-minute walk test and by a clinical assessment scale; N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were estimated. All the patients received the recommended therapy for CHF/RESULTS: Myocardial areas of delayed enhancement were found in 20 (39%) patients. Myocardial edema or early contrast enhancement was not recorded in any case. An immunohistological study revealed myocardial inflammation in 12 (48%) patients. Six patients with chronic myocarditis and 4 patients without myocarditis had delayed-phase contrast enhancement areas. There was a statistically significant correlation of the contrast-enhanced myocardial volume with the frequency of single and paired ventricular premature beats (r=0.66; p=0.002 and r=0.54; p=0.01)/CONCLUSION: The patients with delayed enhancement are at high risk of ventricular tachycardia. The severity of CHF is uncorrelated with the contrast-enhanced myocardial volume. Delayed enhancement is unrelated to the activity of myocardial inflammation, as evidenced by the immunohistological study.