Myopericarditis: Etiology, management, and prognosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Acute pericarditis frequently coexists with myocarditis, sharing common viral etiologies.
• Myopericarditis, a syndrome primarily of pericarditis with myocardial involvement, presents variably.
• Subclinical cases may be masked by systemic viral symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on the presentation, management, and prognosis of myopericarditis.
• To highlight diagnostic tools and challenges in myopericarditis.
• To discuss the limited data and need for clinical trials.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on myopericarditis.
• Analysis of clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities (echocardiography, MRI), and treatment approaches.
• Evaluation of prognosis and natural history based on available studies.

Main Results:

• Myopericarditis presentation varies with myocardial involvement, which can be focal or diffuse.
• Echocardiography and MRI are crucial for diagnosing left ventricular dysfunction and monitoring.
• Controlled clinical trials for myopericarditis are lacking; NSAID use requires caution.

Conclusions:

• The majority of myopericarditis cases show objective normalization on follow-up.
• A significant minority may experience persistent, non-limiting chest discomfort.
• Further research and controlled trials are essential for optimal myopericarditis management.