Diagnostic and prognostic role of electrocardiogram in acute myocarditis: A comprehensive review

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2020 May;25(3):e12726. doi: 10.1111/anec.12726. Epub 2019 Nov 28.

Abstract

Background: Acute myocarditis represents a challenging diagnosis as there is no pathognomonic clinical presentation. In patients with myocarditis, electrocardiogram (ECG) can display a variety of non-specific abnormalities. Nevertheless, ECG is widely used as an initial screening tool for myocarditis.

Methods: We researched all possible ECG alterations during acute myocarditis evaluating prevalence, physiopathology, correlation with clinical presentation patterns, role in differential diagnosis, and prognostic yield.

Results: The most common ECG abnormality in myocarditis is sinus tachycardia associated with nonspecific ST/T-wave changes. The presence of PR segment depression both in precordial and limb leads, a PR segment depression in leads with ST segment elevation, a PR segment elevation in aVR lead or a ST elevation with pericarditis pattern favor generally diagnosis of perimyocarditis rather than myocardial infarction. In patients with acute myocarditis, features associated with a poorer prognosis are: pathological Q wave, wide QRS complex, QRS/T angle ≥ 100°, prolonged QT interval, high-degree atrioventricular block and malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia. On the contrary, ST elevation with a typical early repolarization pattern is associated with a better prognosis.

Conclusions: ECG alterations in acute myocarditis could be very useful in clinical practice for a patient-tailored approach in order to decide appropriate therapy, length of hospitalization, and frequency of followup.

Keywords: MRI; atrial fibrillation/atrial arrhythmias; cardiac anatomy; electrocardiography; ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Electrocardiography / methods*
  • Humans
  • Myocarditis / diagnosis*
  • Myocarditis / physiopathology*
  • Prognosis