biostudies-literaturePussadhamma BKhon Kaen University8884442https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7769651biostudies-literatureUnknown2020<h4>Background</h4>Myocarditis is reported in systemic sclerosis (SSc); however, treatment options and outcomes are limited. Our objective was to define cardiac outcomes after moderate-dose steroid therapy in SSc patients with myocarditis.<h4>Method</h4>An open-label study was conducted among SSc patients with myocarditis-as defined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), disease onset <5 years, and a NYHA functional class ≥II. All enrolled patients received prednisolone (30 mg/d) which would be tapered off by week 24, and CMR was followed up at the end of treatment.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 20 SSc patients were enrolled which 12 patients completed the study. At week 24, 8 of the 12 cases experienced improvement of myocarditis. Compared to those with no improvement, these 8 patients had significantly longer disease duration (<i>p</i> = 0.03), higher heart rate at baseline (<i>p</i> = 0.049) and week 24 (<i>p</i> = 0.04), lower left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) stroke volume at baseline (<i>p</i> = 0.002 and <i>p</i> = 0.01) and week 24 (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> = 0.02), and lower LV and RV cardiac output at week 24 (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> = 0.01). Four cases died during follow-up (3 due to cardiac complications, 1 due to renal crisis). The two who died from heart failure had very high NT-prohormone-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and impaired LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and the one who died from arrhythmia had very high sensitivity of cardiac Troponin-T (hs-cTnT).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Moderate-dose steroid therapy may improve myocarditis in SSc. A proportion of patients died due to cardiac complications during treatment, particularly those with high hs-cTnT, high NT-proBNP, and impaired LVEF. This trial is registered with NCT03607071.International journal of rheumatologyClinical Outcomes of Myocarditis after Moderate-Dose Steroid Therapy in Systemic Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.PMC7769651IN61234Pussadhamma BSuwannaroj STipparot TFoocharoen CChaosuwannakit NNanagara RMahakkanukrauh AfalseClinical Outcomes of Myocarditis after Moderate-Dose Steroid Therapy in Systemic Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.<h4>Background</h4>Myocarditis is reported in systemic sclerosis (SSc); however, treatment options and outcomes are limited. Our objective was to define cardiac outcomes after moderate-dose steroid therapy in SSc patients with myocarditis.<h4>Method</h4>An open-label study was conducted among SSc patients with myocarditis-as defined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), disease onset <5 years, and a NYHA functional class ≥II. All enrolled patients received prednisolone (30 mg/d) which would be tapered off by week 24, and CMR was followed up at the end of treatment.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 20 SSc patients were enrolled which 12 patients completed the study. At week 24, 8 of the 12 cases experienced improvement of myocarditis. Compared to those with no improvement, these 8 patients had significantly longer disease duration (<i>p</i> = 0.03), higher heart rate at baseline (<i>p</i> = 0.049) and week 24 (<i>p</i> = 0.04), lower left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) stroke volume at baseline (<i>p</i> = 0.002 and <i>p</i> = 0.01) and week 24 (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> = 0.02), and lower LV and RV cardiac output at week 24 (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> = 0.01). Four cases died during follow-up (3 due to cardiac complications, 1 due to renal crisis). The two who died from heart failure had very high NT-prohormone-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and impaired LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and the one who died from arrhythmia had very high sensitivity of cardiac Troponin-T (hs-cTnT).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Moderate-dose steroid therapy may improve myocarditis in SSc. A proportion of patients died due to cardiac complications during treatment, particularly those with high hs-cTnT, high NT-proBNP, and impaired LVEF. This trial is registered with NCT03607071.2020-01-01T00:00:00Z20202024-12-04T10:03:12.003Z2021-02-20T21:37:30ZS-EPMC77696513341482810.1155/2020/8884442