Myocarditis

To determine whether there is microvascular thrombosis-associated myocardial damage and dysfunction vs. inflammation or other changes in patients who, following administration of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, develop evidence of myocardial injury typically diagnosed as “myocarditis” based on cardiac MRI findings.

Further, the degree of inflammatory reaction vs. microthrombotic injury to cardiac myocytes from biopsied myocardial tissue will be compared with biopsied myocardial tissue from control hearts. mRNA expression of the ACE2 and ITGA5 binding targets of SARS-Cov-2 Spike protein encoded by mRNA vaccines, as well as expression of other genes that may contribute to post-vaccine pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory states including Coagulation Factor 3 (F3, also known as tissue factor), ACE, AGTR1 and AGT) or a dysfunctional cardiac state (NPPB as a marker of pathologic remodeling) will be examined as candidate genes. Additional, global gene expression is being measured by RNA-Seq and microarray.

Arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy (AVC) is a genetic condition which affects the heart and can lead to heart failure and rhythm problems, of which, sudden cardiac arrest or death is the most tragic and dangerous. Diagnosis and screening of blood-relatives is very difficult as the disease process can be subtle, but sufficient enough, so that the first event is sudden death.

The Mayo Clinic AVC Registry is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA and Papworth Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK. The investigators aim to enroll patients with a history of AVC or sudden cardiac death which may be due to AVC, from the US and UK. Family members who are blood-relatives will also be invited, including those who do not have the condition. Data collected include symptoms, ECG, echocardiographic, MRI, Holter, loop recorder, biopsies, exercise stress testing, blood, buccal and saliva samples.

Objectives of the study:

1. Discover new genes or altered genes (variants) which cause AVC
2. Identify biomarkers which predict (2a) disease onset, (2b) disease progression, (2c) and the likelihood of arrhythmia (ventricular, supra-ventricular and atrial fibrillation)
3. Correlate genotype with phenotype in confirmed cases of AVC followed longitudinally using clinical, electrocardiographic and imaging data.
4. Characterize desmosomal changes in buccal mucosal cells with genotype and validate with gold-standard endomyocardial biopsies

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) accounts for over 360,000 deaths in the US and 400,000 in Europe per annum, including thousands under the age of 40 who die unexpectedly and without warning. Whilst the majority of SCAs are triggered by heart attacks, in those under the age of 40 years this tends to be due to genetic heart disease, which if identified early may save lives of other family members. Epidemiological and post-mortem studies have shown arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy (AVC) as a leading cause of SCA, responsible for up to 25% of deaths in this age group.

AVC is a highly clinically and genetically heterogeneous condition, which results in fibro-fatty replacement of myocardium which may lead to ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, electrical rhythm disturbances and SCD. Although AVC predominantly affects the right ventricle (ARVC), it can affect both the right and left ventricle, or the LV in isolation (ALVC) and result in a type of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with a propensity for arrhythmia (aDCM). Recent reports of aDCM with a familial distribution suggests this is undiagnosed AVC, reflecting heterogeneity and limited understanding. AVC is considered a disease of the desmosome (cell-adhesion proteins) and this has led to identification of desmosomal mutations (plakoglobin, plakophilin-2, desmoplakin, desmoglein-2 and desmocollin), mostly inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Non-desmosomal genes have also been discovered (desmin, titin, RYR2, transforming growth factor -3, transmembrane protein 43 and phospholamban). Together, these only account for 50-60% of known AVc-related mutations, with the remainder being genetically undetermined. Additionally, multiple mutations also exist within families and within individuals further compounding the complexity of AVC. Inter and intra-familial variability is inexplicable with current knowledge, and suggests epigenetic and environmental factors contributing to phenotype. Disease expression is highly variable even amongst members of the same family with the same mutation making clinical detection and cascade screening a challenge. Finally, predicting which patients are at risk of SCD who have AVC or may have AVC is difficult and potentially lethal. Since SCD can be the first lethal and tragic manifestation of the disease, optimizing screening strategies is of paramount importance. The long-term goals of this program are to leverage our well-phenotyped cohort of patients with AVC at Mayo Clinic and Papworth Hospital, University of Cambridge, , enroll others and to discover novel pathogenic variants, correlate genotype with phenotype, and develop robust screening tools for the diagnosis of AVC and preventing SCD.

Overall hypothesis: that the onset of AVC can be reliably and accurately predicted in first-degree relatives of index cases using genetic, electrocardiographic (ECG) and imaging data.

Aim #1: Identify novel candidate genes and variants associated with AVC (including cases involving the right, left and the dilated cardiomyopathy types). This aim will be accomplished using next generation sequencing of probands-family member trios “genomic familial triangulation” approach and an innovative bioinformatics, statistical, and systems based biology approach.

Aim #2: Correlate genotype with phenotype in confirmed cases of AVC followed longitudinally using clinical, ECG and imaging data to 2a. predict disease onset; 2b. predict disease progression; and 2c. predict the likelihood of arrhythmia (ventricular, supra-ventricular and atrial fibrillation).

Aim #3: Combine registries from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA and Papworth Hospital, University of Cambridge, UK, to study longitudinal data and correlate genotype with phenotype.

Aim #4: Characterize desmosomal changes in buccal mucosal cells with genotype and validate with gold-standard endomyocardial biopsies.

Project approval:

This study is approved by the Mayo Clinic IRB and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for collation of existing data to develop the registry.

New directions for the project will seek appropriate approval by the IRB of each site in due course.

Recruitment strategy:

Patients who are already seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester and Papworth Hospital sites will be enrolled, provided research authorization is active. A HIPPA waiver has been approved as the registry collates existing data. Standard Mayo Clinic policy is to inform patients that clinical data can be utilized for research purposes, and patients are asked to specifically decline research authorization if they wish to opt out. A similar system is in place at Papworth Hospital.

For specific aims which require blood or other bio-specimens for the biobank, a separate IRB will be utilized and this requires a signed consent form.

Baseline data includes but is not limited to the following, at index presentation or screening visit for first-degree relatives:

• Baseline demographics
• Clinical history
• Examination findings including features suggestive of cardio-cutaneous syndromes etc.
• Family history of at least 3 generations. An online tool will be utilized for generating a pedigree (http://www.progenygenetics.com/online-pedigree)
• Serial ECG data (12-lead, signal-averaged and Brugada protocols)
• Continuous ECG monitoring data (Holter, extended-Holter, event recorders, implantable loop recorders etc.)
• Imaging data (echocardiography, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT)
• Cardiopulmonary exercise testing or exercise stress testing
• Questionnaires on exercise capacity, activities of daily living (these will be approved by the IRB if self-completed by patients)
• Cardiac catheterization data
• Existing genotyping data (including methods used)
• Where available, endomyocardial biopsy data

For clinical follow-up visits and screening follow-up of first-degree relatives, in addition to those test above, the following will be collected:

• Cardiac implantable electronic devices data
• Cardiac electrophysiology studies, and where catheter ablation delivered, this will be recorded

Biobank for genotyping and novel variant discovery:

Current guidelines recommend genetic testing for index cases and blood-relatives. Where this is performed and available, this will be collected.

Probands and their blood-relatives will be invited to participate in this optional component of the study. Blood, saliva and buccal scrapings will be collected from probands and blood relatives, to identify current pathogenic variants associated with AVC, and to discover novel variants.

Biobank for novel biomarker discovery:

Blood will be stored at baseline and subsequent visits to test for known blood-biomarkers of disease progression (such as high-sensitivity cardiac troponins, natriuretic peptides, high-sensitivity CRP and cytokines). Blood will also be stored for high throughput ‘omics (transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics) to identify novel biomarkers which reflect disease progression, prognostication and crucially help illuminate new biological pathways.

Annual Clinical Assessment:

Most patients with AVC are followed-up annually or more frequently dependent upon symptoms. At each follow-up an ECG and/or Holter is usually performed. The investigators will ensure each site performs this consistently. Data generated will be used for the registry. In addition, investigators may contact patients by telephone to assess symptoms (following IRB approval).

Follow-up at every 3-year interval:

Clinical guidelines for screening first-degree relatives recommend follow-up approximately every 3 years, as phenotype expression can be delayed (with the exception of familial cases where a pathogenic variant has been identified, and the blood-relative is negative). Thus, this time period has been chosen for subsequent follow-up visits, where patients will be re-assessed by 2010 Task Force Criteria for evidence of AVC. This follow-up visit will include:

• Clinical history
• Examination
• ECG (12-lead and signal-averaged)
• Holter monitoring
• Repeat cardiac MRI
• Exercise testing (CPET or treadmill)

It is our objective to continue this registry indefinitely, in order to capture adequate event rates for valid and accurate modelling to predict disease progression.

Data Collation and Management:

The investigators will use the REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) tool for completion of case report forms at enrollment and follow-up visits (link to a demonstration website https://projectredcap.org). The servers are based in-house at Mayo Clinic, with access only provided to approved study personnel. No personal identifiable information will be collated online. All cases will have a unique study ID, with the key to link each subject ID to patient identifiable data located at each site, and only available to the PIs and senior research personnel.

The data stored is considered confidential and will not be disclosed to any 3rd parties, with the exception of the participants clinical health-care providers responsible for the patient’s welfare.

This investigator-initiated randomized trial is being conducted to test whether abatacept, as compared to placebo, is associated with a reduction in MACE among participants who develop myocarditis after treatment with an ICI. Immune checkpoint inhibitors leverage the immune system to treat a wide variety of cancers. Myocarditis is an uncommon immune related adverse event (irAE) secondary to treatment with an ICI. The guideline recommended treatment for ICI myocarditis is cessation of the ICI and administration of corticosteroids. However, despite administration of corticosteroids, the rate of MACE with ICI myocarditis is high. Data from multiple independent international cohorts have shown that the rate of MACE with ICI myocarditis despite administration of corticosteroids ranges from 25-50%.For comparison, the rate of MACE with myocarditis unrelated to an ICI is <5%.

Abatacept is a selective co-stimulation modulator that inhibits T cell (T lymphocyte) activation by binding to CD80 and CD86, thereby blocking its interaction with CD28. This interaction provides a costimulatory signal necessary for full activation of T lymphocytes. In animal studies of ICI myocarditis, the administration of abatacept led to a reduction in cardiac immune activation and an increase in survival. In retrospective unpublished clinical data, the administration of abatacept to participants with ICI myocarditis on corticosteroids was associated with a reduction in risk of MACE. There are no prospective studies testing whether abatacept is effective among participants with ICI myocarditis. Therefore, the primary aim of this trial is to test in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study whether abatacept, administered concurrently with corticosteroids, is associated with a reduction in MACE among participants with recently diagnosed ICI myocarditis

Acute myocarditis (AM) is a common condition characterized by histological evidence of inflammatory infiltrates associated with myocyte necrosis of non-ischemic origin. Clinical presentation spans from indolent form to cardiogenic shock also called fulminant myocarditis (FM). Patients can be stratified on the basis of their clinical presentation: patients with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF)<50% at first echocardiogram, and those with sustained ventricular arrhythmias, called complicated AM, have a worse prognosis compared with uncomplicated cases with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and without arrhythmias. Among complicated AM, FM patients are those ones at the highest risk, presenting with severely impaired LVEF (generally <40%), and with need for inotropes and/or temporary mechanical circulatory supports (t-MCS).The pathogenesis of AM is felt to be due to an immune-mediated response against the myocardium.

As such, the overall objective is to evaluate the efficacy of pulsed IV corticosteroids therapy for the treatment of AM. It is proposed to test the efficacy of pulsed IV methylprednisolone in a single blind randomized controlled trial versus standard therapy on top of maximal support. The rationale for using pulsed corticosteroid therapy in the acute setting (within 3 weeks from cardiac symptoms’ onset) to reduce myocardial inflammatory infiltrates favoring recovery appears strong. Nevertheless, no trial has tested this hypothesis in the very acute phase of AM, despite the high mortality rate of this condition and the fact that AM mainly affects young patients.

Currently, no specific medications in the acute phase of lymphocytic AM are recommended beyond supportive therapy with inotropes and t-MCS. One Cochrane review on corticosteroids showed that almost all studies focused on inflammatory cardiomyopathies with 6 months of symptoms of heart failure (HF), and despite an improvement of cardiac function observed in low quality and small size studies, there was no improvement in the survival. In the past, only one study assessed the efficacy of immunosuppression in AM, the Myocarditis Treatment Trial (MTT) that reported no benefit from immunosuppression. Neutral results in the MTT could be ascribed to a delay in the initiation of this potentially effective treatment. Thus, 55% of patients started immunosuppressive therapy after 1 month from the onset of myocarditis, when the left ventricle (LV) was already dilated, as highlighted by a mean LV end-diastolic diameter (EDD) of 64 mm. It is expected that patients with FM have normal LV dimension during the acute phase despite severe LV systolic dysfunction. Based on a study from PI group, it was observed that FM patients recover most of the LVEF in the first 2 weeks after admission, with a median absolute increase of 30%. This finding further suggests that an immunosuppressive treatment should be started as soon as possible to demonstrate effectiveness. As little has changed in the medical treatment of this condition in the last 30 years, identification of effective drugs is needed.

Patients admitted to hospital for suspected AM complicated by acute HF/cardiogenic shock and LV systolic dysfunction will be screened for randomization.

Patients will be randomized in the two arms in a 1:1 ratio (Pulsed methylprednisolone therapy vs Placebo). Randomization will be performed with stratification by country.

The primary objective is to demonstrate a reduction in the rate of the primary composite endpoint on patients treated with pulsed methylprednisolone therapy vs. standard therapy and maximal supportive care.

Endpoints will be analyzed according to the following principles:

• Intention-to-treat (ITT) population
• Per Protocol (PP) population:
• “Safety population”
• A sensitivity analysis will also be performed on the previously defined populations after excluding patients (1) with histological diagnosis of giant cell myocarditis (GCM) or (2) who did not reach the final diagnosis of acute myocarditis based on CMRI or histology.

Sample size calculation: we plan to recruit a total of 360 patients, and we expect that about 20% of these patients or local physicians will refuse randomization. This would leave a total of 288 randomized patients (144 per arm).

Considering as relevant a reduction in the probability to reach the primary endpoint at 6 months from 25% in the standard therapy on top of maximal supportive care arm to 12% in the pulsed corticosteroid therapy arm (absolute risk reduction of 13% in absolute corresponding to a hazard ratio (HR) pulsed corticosteroid therapy vs. standard therapy of 0.44), the planned sample size will allow achieving a power of 0.80 with a one-sided log-rank test and an overall type I error of 0.025. The 25% figure considered for the standard therapy derives from a retrospective analysis of the patient’s cohort spanning over 20 years. The calculation includes an interim analysis planned at 50% recruitment (O&#39;Brien-Fleming method). This interim analysis is accounted for in the sample size calculation with an alpha level of 0.001525 (final analysis 0.023475 alpha level) and is planned on the primary endpoint to assess a possible early treatment effect. No specific stopping rules are planned, given the multiplicity of aspects involved, but the report on safety will be reviewed by the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) will advise on possible aspects of the trial that need reconsideration.

Sample size adaptation: We will consider, based on the DSMC advise an adaptive approach to sample size in two regards:

1. At the interim analysis, if the baseline incidence is lower than the expected 25%, the sample size calculation may be re-evaluated keeping the same HR of 0.44. For instance, if the observed incidence is 20%, maintaining the same HR of 0.44 (corresponding to an incidence of 9% in the pulsed corticosteroid therapy group, i.e. 11% in absolute risk reduction) the effective sample size needed to achieve 80% power should be increased to 360 patients. If the baseline incidence is higher than 25%, the planned actual sample size will achieve a power greater than 80% to detect a HR of 0.44 and no action will be taken.
2. Based on the conditional power method, and on the DSMC advise, we may reconsider if a less promising result than HR=0.4444 is worth pursuing, given the current observed estimate. This case would require an increase in sample size that will be discussed in terms of relevance and feasibility. For example, if at the planned interim analysis, the estimated absolute risk reduction is at least 10% (HR=0.56) with 25% baseline, and the conditional power of meeting this 10% target (instead of the planned 13%) would be at least 60%, the sample size may be increased to reach the 80% desired power. In this case, the final effective sample size should be increased to 254 patients per arm to preserve an 80% power of demonstrating the less marked difference. The flexibility allowed in the sample size estimate will be considered based on the evaluation of the interim report by the DSMC and no data will be disclosed on interim treatment estimates to the study coordinator and steering committee.

The overall duration of the study from first patient first visit to last patient last visit will be 39 months. The follow-up will be up to 6 months and with additional 3 months to lock the database. Enrollment will last 30 months.

In parallel, there will be a prospective registry of patients that are eligible for the trial, but they are not randomized.

A second registry, called MYOCARDITIS REGISTRY will prospectively recruit all patients with acute myocarditis demonstrated by CMRI or EMB who are not eligible for randomization (not all centers will take part in this registry).

The study is supported by a grant from Italian Ministry of Health (GR-2019-12368506) and Lombardy Region.

Exemption from the investigational new drug (IND) regulations by FDA on August 2nd, 2021 (PIND: 15727)

EudraCT identifier: 2021-000938-34

Multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design. Patients with myocarditis will be screened and, if eligible, randomized within 10 days of the diagnostic CMR to CardiolRx or placebo.

CardiolRx is pharmaceutically produced Cannabidiol and is free of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC<5 ppm). The treatment period is 12 weeks; a last follow-up visit is scheduled one week after the last treatment, 13 weeks after randomization. Study assessments include Cardiac Magnetic Resonance imaging (CMR), ECG monitoring, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) as well as physical exams and laboratory tests.

The primary and secondary outcome parameters are measured by CMR. Additional outcomes include clinical endpoints and changes in inflammatory and biomarkers.

Rationale:

Myocarditis is an acute inflammatory condition of the myocardium. Presentation of the disease may be fulminant and necessitate cardiac support, or even result in sudden cardiac death; milder cases are usually self-limiting but may progress to dilated cardiomyopathy with eventual end-stage heart failure. Other than treatments for associated heart failure there are no specific indicated treatments for myocarditis. CardiolRxTM (cannabidiol [CBD] solution), which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, is being investigated to treat the underlying inflammatory process and thereby favorably modify acute myocarditis. The primary endpoints of the trial are cardiac magnetic resonance measures of left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction and longitudinal strain) and myocardial edema (extra cellular volume) which have been shown to predict long term prognosis of patients with acute myocarditis.

Multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group design. 1:1 randomization; treatment will be stratified within sites.

Patients diagnosed with acute myocarditis by a biopsy or a CMR will be screened within 10 days of the diagnostic CMR. Informed consent will be obtained at this point. For patients who have been diagnosed using an EMB, a CMR needs to be performed as well, which will be included in the informed consent form (ICF).Eligible patients will then be randomized within 10 days from the CMR assessment.

Baseline assessments include the following: Clinical assessment, including vital signs, ECG, 24-hr Holter, chest x-ray; Hematology and blood chemistry, NYHA classification, C SSRS and KCCQ. Frozen plasma will be retained for central analysis of hs-troponin, NT-proBNP and inflammatory markers.

Study treatment needs to be taken with food and will be initiated in the evening of Day 1, after all baseline assessments have been completed and the patient has been randomized.

Oral administration is as follows:

• Week 1 (p.m. dose of Day 1 to a.m. dose of Day 7): 2.5 mg/kg of body weight b.i.d. CardiolRxTM or placebo

• Week 2 (p.m. dose of Day 7 to a.m. dose of Day 14):

  5 mg/kg of body weight b.i.d. CardiolRxTM or placebo

• Week 3 (p.m. dose of Day 14 to a.m. dose of Day 21):

7.5 mg/kg of body weight b.i.d. CardiolRxTM or placebo • Week 4 to end of treatment period (p.m. dose of Day 21 to

a.m. dose of last day of treatment period at week 12): 10 mg/kg of body weight b.i.d. CardiolRxTM or placebo

If the next higher dose after each study drug increase is not tolerated, the dose will be reduced to the previous tolerated dose.

Every week (before the next dose increase) the patient will be re-evaluated. This includes ECG monitoring at approximately 5 hours post-morning dose (time of Tmax) to surveil for deleterious effects on ECG intervals (particularly the QTc interval) and rhythm. Drug titration will be dependent on investigator or designate interrogation of the ECGs and the absence of new, clinically significant abnormalities on those ECGs.

Vital signs, concurrent medication and Adverse Events (AEs), including Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) will be recorded, blood chemistry including liver function tests, hematology as well as INR assessments will be carried out.

Final efficacy assessments (including a second CMR) will take place after 12 weeks of study treatment. A final safety assessment will take place after 13 weeks, 1 week after completion of study treatment.

G-COR is the first Global Prospective Cardio-Oncology Registry. It is a multinational, multicenter prospective observational cohort registry, with the goal of collecting clinical, laboratory, imaging, demographic, and socioeconomic data to identify risk factors associated with increased incidence of cancer therapy related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT) in different settings and to derive and validate risk scores for cardio oncology patients treated in different geographic locations throughout the world.

G-COR will involve the collaboration from 124 hospitals from 24 countries that completed survey with sites demographics. It will evaluate cardiovascular disease in three distinct populations of cancer patients (hematological malignancies: lymphomas, leukemias, multiple myeloma; breast cancer patients; and patients treated with check point inhibitors immunotherapy).

G-COR will evaluate the cardiovascular impact of different cancer treatments in the above-described patients, and similarities and differences in diagnostic and treatment modalities as well as outcomes and the impact of socioeconomic factors and risk factors for toxicities in a large worldwide population.

G-COR will study the impact of cancer in CV disease in cancer patients treated at academic centers as well as in patients treated at community hospitals, through a systematic prospective data collection in a global digital platform.

G-COR is an IRB approved prospective registry, conducted with the logistical support of C5 Clinical Research Division and the Cardiovascular Outcomes Registries and Research (CORR) group at the Cleveland Clinic and have developed eCRFs with an extensive Red Cap Cloud platform.

G-COR Executive, Scientific and topic committees are led by North American, European, Latin American, Australian and Asian representatives from both academic and community centers.

The pilot phase of G-COR enrolls breast cancer patients only, and the global phase will include all three cohorts of patients (breast, Hem and ICIs).

The investigators have started enrolling patients for G-COR pilot phase with US centers, and will start the global international phase in 2023.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause that can affect any organ in the body, including the heart. Granulomatous myocarditis can lead to ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias causing significant morbidity and mortality. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) has been shown to reverse active myocarditis and preserve left ventricular (LV) function and in some cases improve LV function. In addition, IST can suppress arrhythmias that develop due to active myocarditis and prevent the formation of scar.

The potential role of cardiac biomarkers, including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and cardiac troponins, in detecting active myocarditis is limited and studies have been disappointing. At present, there are no biomarkers to detect active myocarditis and the use of advanced imaging modalities (FDG-PET) for assessing and monitoring active myocarditis is not feasible or practical and is associate with high radiation exposure. As such, a biomarker that is reflective of active myocarditis and that is cardiac specific will assist physicians in assessing the presence of active myocarditis to guide therapeutic decisions and to assess response to therapy which can limit further cardiac damage.

Cell free DNA (cfDNA) are fragments of genomic DNA that are released into the circulation from dying or damaged cells. It is a powerful diagnostic tool in cancer, transplant rejection and fetal medicine especially when the genomic source differs from the host. A novel technique that relies on tissue unique CpG methylation patterns can identify the tissue source of cell free DNA in an individual reflecting potential tissue injury. We will be conducting a pilot study to explore the utility of this diagnostic tool to identify granulomatous myocarditis in patients with sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause that can affect any organ in the body, including the heart. Sarcoidosis results from an immune reaction to an environmental exposure to yet unknown antigen(s) in a genetically predisposed individual. Autopsy studies have suggested that cardiac involvement with sarcoidosis occurs in up to 25% of cases, although more than half of these cases are sub-clinical. Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) CS can lead to life-threatening heart failure, heart block, or rhythm disturbance and accounts for 13-25% of all sarcoidosis deaths in the USA. Therefore, although respiratory failure from lung sarcoidosis is the most common cause of sarcoidosis-related death in the USA, sudden death from cardiac sarcoidosis is a major concern owing to its acute nature. CS can present in a multitude of ways. It can be the initial manifestation of sarcoidosis in an individual not known to have sarcoidosis (a cohort beyond the aims of this proposal), patients can present with cardiac symptoms which can include palpitations, near-syncope or syncopal episodes which require a complete workup for potential CS and patients can be asymptomatic which is a sizable cohort considering the discrepancy between the expected prevalence of CS (25-40%) and CS that is detected clinically (5%).

Granulomatous myocarditis can lead to ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias causing significant morbidity and mortality. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) has been shown to reverse active myocarditis and preserve left ventricular (LV) function and in some cases improve LV function. In addition, IST can suppress arrhythmias that develop due to active myocarditis and prevent the formation of scar. Cardiac MRI (cMRI) and cardiac PET scans are currently used as complementary diagnostic tests for cardiac sarcoidosis, although with some limitations. Cardiac MRI with gadolinium has a sensitivity of 76-100% and specificity of 78-92% for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis, but its use is limited in patients with implantable cardiac devices. The presence of delayed enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced MRI is suggestive of scar tissue formation. 18FDG PET uses radioactive glucose to detect areas of active inflammation. The use of 18FDG PET as a marker of active granulomatous myocarditis should be interpreted carefully as several studies have shown the limitations of such protocols that force the myocardium to generate energy using free fatty acid metabolism exclusively. In addition, studies have also shown that the presumed pathological patterns, focal and focal on diffuse uptake, are also seen in healthy controls and patients with ischemic congestive heart failure who have undergone 18-FDG-PET12 and that a blood glucose level of >7.5mmol/L (>137mg/dl) at the time of the study results in absent or minimal myocardial FDG activity.

The potential role of cardiac biomarkers, including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and cardiac troponins, in detecting active myocarditis is limited and studies have been disappointing. At present, there are no biomarkers to detect active myocarditis and the use of advanced imaging modalities (FDG-PET) for assessing and monitoring active myocarditis is not feasible or practical and is associate with high radiation exposure. As such, a biomarker that is reflective of active myocarditis and that is cardiac specific will assist physicians in assessing the presence of active myocarditis to guide therapeutic decisions and to assess response to therapy which can limit further cardiac damage.

Cell free DNA (cfDNA) are fragments of genomic DNA that are released into the circulation from dying or damaged cells. It is a powerful diagnostic tool in cancer, transplant rejection and fetal medicine especially when the genomic source differs from the host. A novel technique that relies on tissue unique CpG methylation patterns can identify the tissue source of cell free DNA in an individual reflecting potential tissue injury. A recent paper utilized this technique to identify cardiac specific cfDNA in the bloodstream of patients with acute myocardial injury and sepsis reflecting cardiomyocyte injury/death. We will be conducting a pilot study to explore the utility of this diagnostic tool to identify granulomatous myocarditis in patients with sarcoidosis.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to learn about the safety and effects of the study vaccine (called COMIRNATY) for the potential prevention of COVID-19. This study is seeking participants who:

1. Are age <21 years.
2. Have presentation to participating medical center with evaluation in Emergency Room and/or hospitalization.
3. Received either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or booster dose(s) of COMIRNATY within 7 days of symptom onset.
4. Meet criteria of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition of probable or confirmed myocarditis/pericarditis
5. Are capable of giving signed informed consent/assent (by parents/legal guardians of minors and/or patients), which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the Informed Consent/Assent Document and in this protocol OR meets criteria for waiver of consent.

This study will examine the potential long-term effects associated with myocarditis/pericarditis following vaccination with COMIRNATY. The association of myocarditis/pericarditis in participants who received the study vaccine (COMIRNATY) compared with those associated with COVID-19 will also be examined. This will help us determine if COMIRNATY is safe and effective, and if there is a myocarditis/pericarditis association that should be noted. Participants will take part in this study for up to 5 years. During this time, they will receive complete cardiac imaging tests, and have follow up visits per guidance stated in the study protocol.

This is a low-interventional cohort study to determine cardiac and non-cardiac long-term outcomes of persons <21 years of age with myocarditis/pericarditis after the administration of COMIRNATY, compared with similarly aged persons with myocarditis/pericarditis associated with COVID-19, including MIS-C.

To be classified as having COMIRNATY-associated myocarditis/pericarditis, a person must 1) meet the CDC case definition for probable or confirmed myocarditis/pericarditis,15 2) have received any dose of COMIRNATY ≤ 7 days of symptom onset, and 3) have no other plausible alternative etiology at the time of enrollment. Inclusion criteria for participants are:

1. Age <21 years
2. Presentation to a participating medical center with evaluation in Emergency Room and/or hospitalization
3. Received either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or booster dose(s) of COMIRNATY ≤7 days of symptom onset, even if a different brand of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in earlier vaccinations Retrospectively ascertained participants must be enrolled within 2 years of diagnosis
4. COVID-19 related disease
5. Probable or confirmed myocarditis/pericarditis as per the contemporaneous CDC case definition at the time of diagnosis
6. Capable of giving signed informed consent/assent (by parents/legal guardians of minors and/or patients), which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the Informed Consent/Assent Document and in this protocol OR meets criteria for waiver of consent.

To be classified as having myocarditis/pericarditis associated with COVID-19, a person must have 1) either acute severe COVID-19 infection or MIS-C, as defined by the CDC, 2) findings of probable or confirmed myocarditis in the CDC definition, 3) no other plausible alternative etiology.

Participants in all cohorts will be those who present to participating medical centers for care. This study is a collaboration between the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)’s Pediatric Heart Network (PHN) and Pfizer.

Approximately 300 prospectively ascertained cases of children, adolescents, and young adults <21 years of age who receive care at participating medical centers for myocarditis/pericarditis associated with COMIRNATY, up to 200 retrospectively ascertained cases of persons <21 years of age who receive care for myocarditis/pericarditis associated with COMIRNATY, and approximately 100 persons <21 years of age with COVID-associated myocarditis/pericarditis, including MIS-C will be enrolled.

The over-arching goal of this work is to further the understanding of myocardial damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using state of the art CV imaging to investigate a novel potential mechanism of CV injury in SLE, subclinical myocardial inflammation.

Aim 1: Investigate an alternative pathway for CV morbidity in SLE by measuring myocardial edema at time of moderate to severe flare and compare values to post-flare studies and historical healthy controls.

Hypothesis 1: Myocardial edema, measured quantitatively with T2 CMR mapping during moderate to severe SLE flare will be significantly increased compared to 1) historical controls and 2) in SLE patients after resolution of flare.

Aim 2: Perform exploratory analyses investigating relationships between myocardial edema on CMR and markers of SLE disease activity and CV risk factors.

Hypothesis 2: Markers of disease activity including inflammatory makers (ESR and high sensitivity c-reactive protein), complement and autoantibody levels will predict the presence of T2 CMR detected myocardial edema during flare.