Persistent left ventricular dysfunction after acute lymphocytic myocarditis: Frequency and predictors

Persistent left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in patients with acute lymphocytic myocarditis (LM) is widely unexplored. To assess the frequency and predictors of persistent LV dysfunction in patients with LM and reduced LVEF at admission. We retrospectively evaluated 89 consecutive patients with histologically-proven acute myocarditis enrolled at three Italian referral hospitals. A subgroup of 48 patients with LM, baseline systolic impairment and an available echocardiographic assessment at 12 months (6-18) from discharge constituted the study population. The primary study end-point was persistent LV dysfunction, defined as LVEF