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

Abstract

BackgroundAcute 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.MethodsWe researched all possible ECG alterations during acute myocarditis evaluating prevalence, physiopathology, correlation with clinical presentation patterns, role in differential diagnosis, and prognostic yield.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsECG 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.