Clinical Implications of Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy: How to Diagnose and Assess the Risk of Arrhythmic to Guide Treatment Selection

The afternoon workshop resumed after the lunch break with “Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy: Arrhythmic Risk, Diagnosis, and Clinical Implications.” The session opened with remarks from Course Director Irnizarifka, MD, followed by a pre-test.

The scientific program began with Irnizarifka, MD, presenting “Clinical Syndromes and Red Flags.” The session explored myocardial disorders involving structural and functional abnormalities of the heart muscle without significant coronary artery disease as the underlying cause. She highlighted important red flags for cardiomyopathy and introduced the concepts and histopathological features of inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

The diagnostic approach was subsequently discussed by Putrika Prastuti Ratna Gharini, MD, PhD, through “Diagnostic Roadmap.” The presentation emphasized the role of echocardiography in guiding further evaluation and treatment decisions, including consideration of immunosuppressive therapy. Particular attention was given to strain and Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS), which can detect subtle myocardial dysfunction more sensitively than conventional LVEF assessment.

Following an interactive discussion and coffee break, Putrika Prastuti Ratna Gharini, MD, PhD, continued with “Arrhythmic Risk Stratification.” The session focused on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) phenotypes, key elements of arrhythmic risk assessment, and three essential questions that CMR should help answer in patients with suspected inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

The management perspective was presented by Mohammad Iqbal, MD, PhD, through “Management Strategies.” The session outlined six major pillars of inflammatory cardiomyopathy management, complemented by discussions of acute presentations, unusual ECG findings, initial management, and appropriate referral strategies.

The workshop concluded with an interactive case-based session involving all three speakers. Participants were presented with several clinical scenarios, including heart failure with reduced ejection fraction associated with coronary artery disease, low-voltage ECG findings in the limb leads, and rhythm disturbances captured through patient monitoring. These cases provided an opportunity to integrate the diagnostic, risk-stratification, and management principles discussed throughout the workshop.

The session concluded with a post-test, bringing the workshop to a close and reinforcing key approaches to the recognition and management of inflammatory cardiomyopathy.