Utilization of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for resumption of athletic activities following COVID-19 infection: an expert consensus document on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention (CVRI) Leadership and endorsed by the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)
Ruberg FL, Baggish AL, Hays AG, Jerosch-Herold M, Kim J, Ordovas KG, Reddy G, Shenoy C, Weinsaft JW, Woodard PK. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2022 Dec 21;24(1):73. doi: 10.1186/s12968-022-00907-8. PMID: 36539786; PMCID: PMC9767806.
“This consensus document synthesizes available evidence to contextualize the appropriate utilization of CMR [cardiovascular magnetic resonance]in the RTP [return-to-play] assessment of athletes with prior COVID-19 infection to facilitate informed, evidence-based decisions, while identifying knowledge gaps that merit further investigation.” The authors provide an overview of COVID-19 and myocardial inflammation and the role of imaging. They also offer a table summarizing the findings on cardiac testing following COVID-19 infection that should prompt CMR. The authors describe when to consider CMR and what findings on CMR may indicate myocarditis.