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Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can suggest scarring and fibrosis. LGE often is seen in patients with suspected myocarditis, but what is the relation between LGE and prognosis? In two studies, investigators evaluated patients with myocarditis but preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.
In 384 Italian patients with acute myocarditis, subepicardial LGE was present predominantly in inferior and lateral walls in 41%, anteroseptal LGE was found in 36%, and LGE in other segments was noted in 16%; 7% of patients had no LGE. During a median follow-up of 4.3 years, anteroseptal LGE was associated with worse prognosis and was the best independent predictor (odds ratio, 2.7) of a combined endpoint of cardiac …