Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging analysis of cardiac involvement in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

ABSTRACT Objectives Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) causes complications in various organs. Cardiac involvement affects the prognosis but is difficult to detect during subclinical stages. We compared the results of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with those of other imaging studies and biomarkers for patients with EGPA and suspected cardiac involvement. Methods This retrospective observational study included 29 patients diagnosed with and treated for EGPA at our hospital between 2015 and 2022. Of these patients, 16 with suspected cardiac involvement and cardiac magnetic resonance images were selected. Symptoms, autoantibodies, biomarkers, echocardiography, and other test results were compared with imaging findings. Results Of the 16 patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, eight had findings of cardiac involvement. A univariate analysis indicated significant differences in troponin I, creatine kinase-MB, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide between patients with and without findings of cardiac involvement. A multivariate analysis identified creatine kinase-MB as an independent predictive factor for cardiac involvement. Conclusions Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging used to diagnose subclinical cardiac lesions possibly improved the prognosis of patients with EGPA.