Cardiopathogenic T Cells Govern Progression and Functional Remodeling in Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy and Chronic Myocarditis

Echocardiographic imaging mirrors the immunopathological processes underlying the progression from acute myocarditis to inflammatory cardiomyopathy. T cell-mediated myocardial inflammation and edematous swelling in subepicardial regions at disease onset is followed by smoldering low-level myocardial inflammation or increasing cardiomyocyte loss and fibrotic remodeling. The resulting decline of cardiac function in the progressive disease is reflected and best predicted by impaired echocardiographic strain.