Pietro Scicchitano1, Lorenzo Grazioli Gauthier2, Carlo D'Agostino3, Pasquale Caldarola4, Biagio Solarino5, Francesco Massari6, Francesco Chiarella2, Gianfranco Sinagra7, Fabio Manca8, Marco Matteo Ciccone9. 1. Section of Cardiovascular diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: piero.sc@hotmail.it. 2. Cardiology Department, Hospital "San Martino" Genova, Genova, Italy. 3. Cardiology Department, Policlinico Hospital of Bari, Bari, Italy. 4. Cardiology Department, Hospital "San Paolo" Bari, Bari, Italy. 5. Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. 6. Cardiology Department, Hospital "F. Perinei" Altamura, Altamura (BA), Italy. 7. Section of Cardiovascular diseases, Cardiovascular Department, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. 8. Department of Science of Educational, Psychology, and Communication- University of Bari, Bari, Italy. 9. Section of Cardiovascular diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: . The final diagnosis of myocarditis is challenging. The aim of our study was to provide the D.A.M.E. (Diagnosis of Acute Myocarditis in Emergency) Score for the fast identification of patients suffering from myocarditis at Emergency Department (ED). METHODS: . This was a multicenter, retrospective study involving three centers. All medical records from January 2010 to December 2014 reporting a final discharge diagnosis of myocarditis were considered. One hundred-four patients (mean age: 40.2±16.5 years) were enrolled. Clinical, biochemical and instrumental data were gathered. Data were analysed by means of logistic regression model and factorial analysis. A validation cohort from a fourth center was enrolled. RESULTS: . The final determinants of the DAME score were six: fever, chest pain, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) > 20 mm/h, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) >3 mg/L, troponin serum levels >3 ng/L, and left ventricle ejection fraction < 50%. All of them received a specified score ranging from 0 to 4. A score > 4 was related to 75% probability of myocarditis; a final score ranging between 1 and 4 was related to 57% probability of myocarditis. ROC curve on the validation cohort (289 patients, 27 with myocarditis) demonstrated the best cut-off to be 7: AUC 0.958 (p< 0.001), sensibility: 100%, specificity: 85.11%, PPV: 40.9%, NPV: 100% (LR+: 6.72; LR-: 0.00). Logistic regression analysis revealed Odds Ratio equal to 2.83 (95% CI 1.90 - 4.20, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: . DAME score can offer a reliable tool in ED setting for the evaluation of patients suffering from suspected myocarditis.
PURPOSE: . The final diagnosis of myocarditis is challenging. The aim of our study was to provide the D.A.M.E. (Diagnosis of Acute Myocarditis in Emergency) Score for the fast identification of patients suffering from myocarditis at Emergency Department (ED). METHODS: . This was a multicenter, retrospective study involving three centers. All medical records from January 2010 to December 2014 reporting a final discharge diagnosis of myocarditis were considered. One hundred-four patients (mean age: 40.2±16.5 years) were enrolled. Clinical, biochemical and instrumental data were gathered. Data were analysed by means of logistic regression model and factorial analysis. A validation cohort from a fourth center was enrolled. RESULTS: . The final determinants of the DAME score were six: fever, chest pain, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) > 20 mm/h, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) >3 mg/L, troponin serum levels >3 ng/L, and left ventricle ejection fraction < 50%. All of them received a specified score ranging from 0 to 4. A score > 4 was related to 75% probability of myocarditis; a final score ranging between 1 and 4 was related to 57% probability of myocarditis. ROC curve on the validation cohort (289 patients, 27 with myocarditis) demonstrated the best cut-off to be 7: AUC 0.958 (p< 0.001), sensibility: 100%, specificity: 85.11%, PPV: 40.9%, NPV: 100% (LR+: 6.72; LR-: 0.00). Logistic regression analysis revealed Odds Ratio equal to 2.83 (95% CI 1.90 - 4.20, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: . DAME score can offer a reliable tool in ED setting for the evaluation of patients suffering from suspected myocarditis.