Inflammatory cardiac disorders in the athlete

Inflammatory disorders of the heart can lead to significant complications in an athlete if not diagnosed and managed in a timely fashion. The two primary cardiac inflammatory diseases are myocarditis and pericarditis. Both American and European athletic participation guidelines recommend activity restriction until there is resolution of inflammation. However, several gaps in our understanding exist that warrant future investigation to help clinicians best manage athletes. In this chapter, we discuss the diagnoses of inflammatory cardiac disorders, the current athlete participation and return-to-play guidelines, the evidence behind the guidelines, as well as the areas of future research.

Duke Scholars

Author Nishant Shah Medicine, Cardiology