Myocarditis and pericarditis are common pathologies in the general population, which pose significant challenges to practitioners for both diagnosis and treatment due to the unique characteristics of diagnosis verification and lack of clear understanding of the diseases pathogenesis. This publication discusses the primary mechanisms of inflammatory diseases development of the myocardium and pericardium based on innate and acquired immunity disorders, including data from our research confirming the autoimmune and autoinflammatory nature of these diseases. The paper presents the main clinical manifestations and laboratory markers that enable differential diagnosis between autoimmune and autoinflammatory heart diseases. Additionally, it provides an evidence-based approach to the effectiveness of various anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs in different types and stages of inflammatory diseases of the myocardium and pericardium.

Aim. To analyze clinical and paraclinical data in patients with documented cardiac sarcoidosis, outlining the key points of diagnosis and selection of the optimal treatment.Material and methods. For the period from 2016 to 2021, 63 patients (50,4±14,1 years) were included in the cohort study on negotiability. Based on a standard examination, 15 patients (41±13 years old) were selected, who continued the examination to confirm the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 10 patients, while endomyocardial biopsy in 7 patients. All patients underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET).Results. The most common (53%) electrocardiographic abnormality was right bundle branch block. Ventricular arrhythmias and high-grade atrioventricular block were recorded mainly in patients with documented activity. Regional contractility disorders were predominantly detected in patients with cardiac fibrosis. Delayed contrast enhancement according to cardiac MRI was recorded mainly intramurally in the interventricular septum and subepicardial area of left ventricular (LV) lateral wall. When analyzing the PET results, we found the predominant radiopharmaceutical accumulation in the interventricular septum (56%), lateral (44%) and anterior (33%) LV walls. There was no significant improvement in global LV contractility against the background of immunosuppressive therapy, especially in patients with reduced ejection fraction: initially 49,2±10,1% vs 46,9±14,9% during therapy (p=0,658).Conclusion. A certain apprehensive attitude of the doctor and adherence to the algorithm for early diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis allows minimizing the risks of fatal cardiovascular events. On the contrary, in the case of late diagnosis, even the use of aggressive immunosuppressive therapy does not lead to an improvement in global myocardial contractility, and fibrosis zones can cause life-threatening bradyarrhythmias and ventricular arrhythmias.

Aim. To compare the effectiveness of standard heart failure therapy with and without combined immunosuppressive therapy in patients with documented lymphocytic myocarditis (LM) based on data from actual clinical practice.Material and methods. This observational study included 70 patients with documented LM, 40% (n=28) of whom received immunosuppressive therapy. All patients underwent standard echocardiographic and laboratory investigations, endomyocardial biopsy with histological, immunohistochemical and molecular genetic analysis. Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 74% of patients. All patients received standard therapy for heart failure at baseline.Results. The groups did not differ in demographic and echocardiographic characteristics. The appointment of immunosuppressive therapy was accompanied by an increase in ejection fraction by 12,2% compared to 6,4% (p=0,02). There were no significant differences in combined endpoints (survival and the need for heart transplantation) depending on therapy regimen (log-rank p=0,97).Conclusion. The prognosis of patients with chronic LM depends on the process activity, the severity of impaired hemodynamics and ventricular arrhythmias, as well as on the presence of persistent viral infection. Compliance with patient selection algorithm before prescribing immunosuppressive therapy is associated with the improvement in myocardial global contractility.