New Study Confirms: Most Patients with Uncomplicated Myocarditis Face Low In-Hospital Risk
Co-Authored by Foundation Co-Founder Dr. Leslie Cooper and Medical Advisory Board Member Dr. Enrico Ammirati
The Myocarditis Foundation is proud to share important new findings that bring hope and clarity to patients and families facing a diagnosis of acute myocarditis. A newly published study in JACC: Heart Failure, co-authored by our co-founder Dr. Leslie Cooper and Medical Advisory Board member Dr. Enrico Ammirati, offers encouraging news: most patients with uncomplicated myocarditis are at very low risk for serious heart problems while hospitalized.
The study, called the MyocarditIRM Study, followed over 800 adult patients in hospitals across France who were diagnosed with acute myocarditis using advanced cardiac imaging (cardiac MRI). Importantly, the study focused only on patients with “uncomplicated” presentations—meaning they came to the hospital with chest pain or discomfort, but without dangerous heart rhythms, heart failure, or signs of shock. The results were remarkable: only 3.6% of these patients had any significant heart-related complications during their hospital stay, and just one person out of 803 died—emphasizing how rare these events are in uncomplicated cases.
While the study reinforced that most patients with mild myocarditis recover well, they also identified a few red flags that could help doctors monitor higher-risk individuals more closely. These include fainting before hospital arrival, certain abnormal heart rhythms on an ECG, and very high troponin levels (a blood test that shows heart injury).
This work builds on prior research from the Lombardy Registry and adds valuable insight for clinicians treating myocarditis worldwide. It also underlines the need for better long-term data—especially for understanding who might face problems after leaving the hospital.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Cooper and Dr. Ammirati for their continued leadership in the field and for their commitment to improving care for myocarditis patients everywhere. Their research not only advances science but offers peace of mind to many families who are navigating this challenging diagnosis.
You can read the full study by clicking the link below.
