Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Acute Myocarditis

The treatment for patients with uncomplicated myocarditis (left ventricular ejection fraction >50% without heart failure) is not currently well defined. Analgesic drugs are commonly used to manage pain. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among analgesics is controversial due to potential harmful effects observed in animal models. However, NSAIDs are the standard treatment for pericarditis, even when it is associated with mild myocardial involvement. In patients with acute myocarditis and normal left ventricular ejection fraction, observational studies have suggested that NSAIDs may have a beneficial effect in reducing late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) measured in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), an important prognostic marker in this population.

We plan to conduct a prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NSAIDs versus conventional analgesic treatment in patients with uncomplicated acute myocarditis and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%.

Approximately 150 patients will be randomized 1:1 to NSAID treatment (ibuprofen tapering schedule during 3 weeks) or conventional treatment (acetaminophen or metamizole in case of allergy until pain resolution) during hospital admission. Patients will be followed for a 12-month period. Baseline CMR will be performed at initial hospitalization for acute myocarditis and at 3 and 6 months.

The primary objective is to assess the utility of ibuprofen versus conventional treatment with analgesics in acute myocarditis with preserved LVEF, in terms of reducing LGE on CMR at 6-month follow-up compared to baseline.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 years or older.
• Patients hospitalized for confirmed acute myocarditis and left ventricular ejection fraction ventricular >50%.
• Elevated troponin I/T (3 times above the upper limit of normal).
• Absence of acute heart failure.
• Absence of ischemic heart disease (ruled out by coronary angiography or coronary CT in individuals over 40 years).
• Diagnostic criteria for myocarditis (Lake Louise, 2018 update) by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Exclusion criteria

• Kidney disease stage 3b, 4 and 5 (creatinine clearance by CKD-EPI <45 ml/min/1.73 m2).
• Severe liver failure (Child-Pugh class C).
• Poorly controlled pharmacological hypertension (repeatedly systolic arterial pressure >140 mmHg).
• Diagnosis criteria for acute pericarditis.
• Moderate or severe pericardial effusion (>10 mm in total).
• Hypersensitivity to NSAIDs or previous use in the last 7 days.
• Contraindication for MRI.
• Participation in another clinical trial.
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or women of childbearing age unwilling to use appropriate contraception throughout the study.
• Any circumstance that, in the investigator's opinion, compromises participation in the clinical trial.