Cardiac magnetic resonance appearance of myocarditis caused by high dose IL-2: similarities to community-acquired myocarditis.

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) characteristics of myocarditis caused by high dose interleukin-2 (7 patients) with community-acquired myocarditis (14 patients). A total of 21 patients with suspected myocarditis and elevated cardiac enzymes underwent cine CMR followed by delayed enhancement. The mean ejection fraction was mildly decreased in both groups. The location, pattern, and extent of DE were similar in both groups of patients. The CMR similarities between these two populations suggest that cytokine-mediated cytotoxicity may play an important role in community-acquired myocarditis.