Characteristics of COVID-19 Myocarditis With and Without Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome

Abstract

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) is a severe complication described in a minority of patients with COVID-19. Myocarditis has been reported in patients with COVID-19, including MIS. In this study, we compared the clinical characteristics and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings of COVID-19 myocarditis in patients with and without MIS. In the 330 patients with COVID-19 who were referred for CMR at our institution between July 24, 2020, to March 31, 2021, 40 patients were identified as having myocarditis, MIS myocarditis (n = 21) and non-MIS myocarditis (n = 19). MIS myocarditis was characterized by global myocardial inflammation/edema with significantly elevated native T1, whereas only regional inflammation, and edema were noted in the non-MIS group. Distinct late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns—inferior myocardial involvement in non-MIS myocarditis and septal involvement in MIS myocarditis—were identified. The LGE burden was comparable between the 2 groups (5.9% vs 6.6%, MIS vs non-MIS group, p = 0.83). Myocarditis was diagnosed more frequently by CMR in the MIS group (70% vs 6.3%, MIS vs non-MIS, p <0.001). In the 20 patients with a sequential CMR study at a median 102-day follow-up, 25% had persistent myocardial edema. The LGE burden improved over time, from a median of 5.0% (interquartile range 3.4% to 7.3%) to 3.2% (interquartile range 2.0% to 3.8%; p <0.001). In conclusion, MIS and non-MIS myocarditis exhibit distinct characteristics by CMR. Persistent LGE and edema were common at follow-up CMR examination in both groups.