Myocarditis in athletes: Challenges for return to play

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Myocarditis presents with diverse causes and outcomes, making diagnosis difficult.
• It is a significant cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
• Current diagnostic approaches integrate clinical assessment, biomarkers, and advanced imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the management of myocarditis in athletes.
• To address the complexities of return-to-play decisions after myocarditis.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on myocarditis diagnosis and management.
• Emphasis on cardiac magnetic resonance and endomyocardial biopsy as diagnostic cornerstones.
• Discussion of risk stratification strategies for athletes.

Main Results:

• Cardiac MRI is the non-invasive gold standard for myocarditis diagnosis.
• Return-to-play decisions in athletes are challenging due to limited evidence.
• Multifaceted evaluation is crucial for athlete safety.

Conclusions:

• A multidisciplinary approach is essential for diagnosing and managing myocarditis.
• Careful risk stratification and shared decision-making are vital for safe return-to-play in athletes.
• Further evidence-based data is needed to guide return-to-play protocols.