Image-Based Prediction of Ventricular Tachycardias in Post-Myocarditis Patients: an International Multicenter Case-control Study

Launched by CENTRO MEDICO TEKNON · Dec 8, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating how special heart imaging, called cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), can help predict dangerous heart rhythms known as ventricular tachycardias (VT) in patients who have had myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. The researchers want to see if analyzing the specific patterns of scar tissue in the heart can give better insights into the risk of these arrhythmias compared to the traditional method, which mainly looks at the heart's pumping ability (ejection fraction). This study is important because many patients at risk for VT may have normal heart function, and understanding their scar tissue could help doctors decide who needs an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for protection against sudden cardiac events.

To participate in this study, individuals must be over 18 years old and have been diagnosed with myocarditis at least six months before joining. They should not have any other serious heart conditions or previous episodes of dangerous heart rhythms. Participants will undergo a CMR scan to assess their heart's scar tissue, and their experiences will contribute to understanding how to better predict and manage heart health in post-myocarditis patients. The study is currently recruiting participants, and anyone considering joining will need to provide informed consent and meet specific eligibility criteria.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age \> 18 years.
• • 2. Myocarditis diagnosis \> 6 months before the inclusion in the study.
• • 3. Signed informed consent.
• • 4. CMR performed \> 6 months after myocarditis diagnosis
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Age \< 18 years.
• • Pregnancy.
• • Other concomitant structural heart diseases (e.g. congenital, non-ischemic, etc.)
• • Active myocarditis
• • Myocarditis diagnosis \< 6 months
• • Previously documented sustained ventricular arrhythmias.
• • Impossibility or contraindications to undergo LGE-CMR.
• • Concomitant investigation treatments.
• • Medical, geographical and social factors that make study participation impractical, and inability to give written informed consent. Patient's refusal to participate in the study.