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Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Published in: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Patients with exercise-associated ventricular ectopy present evidence of myocarditis

Authors: Michael Jeserich, Bela Merkely, Manfred Olschewski, Simone Kimmel, Gabor Pavlik, Christoph Bode

Published in: Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

The origin and clinical relevance of exercise-induced premature ventricular beats (PVBs) in patients without coronary heart disease or cardiomyopathies is unknown. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance enables us to non-invasively assess myocardial scarring and oedema. The purpose of our study was to discover any evidence of myocardial anomalies in patients with exercise-induced ventricular premature beats.

Methods

We examined 162 consecutive patients presenting palpitations and documented exercise-induced premature ventricular beats (PVBs) but no history or evidence of structural heart disease. Results were compared with 70 controls matched for gender and age. ECG-triggered, T2-weighted, fast spin echo triple inversion recovery sequences and late gadolinium enhancement were obtained as well as LV function and dimensions.

Results

Structural anomalies in the myocardium and/or pericardium were present in 85 % of patients with exercise-induced PVBs. We observed a significant difference between patients with PVBs and controls in late gadolinium enhancement, that is 68 % presented subepicardial or midmyocardial lesions upon enhancement, whereas only 9 % of the controls did so (p < 0.0001). More patients presented pericardial enhancement (35 %) or pericardial thickening (27 %) compared to controls (21 % and 13 %, p < 0.0001). Myocardial oedema was present in 37 % of the patients and in only one control, p < 0.0001. Left ventricular ejection fraction did not differ between patients and controls (63.1 ± 7.9 vs. 64.7 ± 7.0, p = 0.13).

Conclusions

The majority of patients with exercise-associated premature ventricular beats present evidence of myocardial disease consistent with acute or previous myocarditis or myopericarditis.
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Metadata
Title
Patients with exercise-associated ventricular ectopy present evidence of myocarditis
Authors
Michael Jeserich
Bela Merkely
Manfred Olschewski
Simone Kimmel
Gabor Pavlik
Christoph Bode
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1532-429X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12968-015-0204-3

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