Ponce-Alvarado et al. (2026)
Abstract
Background: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is an uncommon form of acute myocardial inflammation
that may progress within hours to cardiogenic shock, malignant arrhythmias, and multiorgan
failure. Outcome depends on rapid recognition of the high-risk phenotype, exclusion of competing
diagnoses, and restoration of perfusion before irreversible end-organ injury. Objective: To
synthesize contemporary clinical evidence on early diagnosis, endomyocardial biopsy, cardiac
magnetic resonance, and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) strategies for FM in emergency
care. Methods: PRISMA 2020 systematic review. A reproducible PubMed/MEDLINE search was
conducted from January 2000 through 30 march 2026 using terms related to fulminant
myocarditis, biopsy, cardiac magnetic resonance, ECMO, Impella, and mechanical circulatory
support. Primary studies enrolling at least five patients and reporting diagnostic, survival,
ventricular recovery, weaning, transplantation, or complication outcomes were prioritized.
Because of clinical heterogeneity and overlapping registries, quantitative pooling was not
performed. Results: Of 273 identified records, 50 reports underwent eligibility assessment and 32
primary studies were included. Historical VA-ECMO series reported in-hospital survival around
70% in selected populations, whereas contemporary high-acuity cohorts reported in-hospital or
1-year mortality approaching 36–50%. In a multicenter cohort of 217 FM patients receiving VA-
ECMO, left ventricular unloading within 24 hours was associated with fewer deaths, cardiac
replacement events, or cardiovascular rehospitalizations. The J-PVAD registry included 269 FM
patients treated with Impella and reported 30-day survival of 74.3%. FULLMOON data supported
early biopsy for etiologic definition and prognostic stratification. Conclusions: FM is a time-
dependent cardiovascular emergency. The immediate priority is restoration of perfusion and
oxygen delivery, early shock-team activation, and phenotype-guided MCS. Early biopsy is
particularly relevant when treatable inflammatory subtypes are suspected. Early LV unloading is
increasingly supported when VA-ECMO causes or sustains ventricular overload, but device
comparisons remain limited by confounding by indication.
Keywords: fulminant myocarditis; cardiogenic shock; VA-ECMO; Impella; mechanical circulatory
support; endomyocardial biopsy; emergency care.
y rápida progresión multiorgánica
1
. Introducción
exige reconocimiento temprano,
traslado a centros con capacidad
avanzada y tratamiento simultáneo
del shock y de la etiología [2].
La miocarditis fulminante (MF)
representa el extremo más grave del
espectro de la miocarditis aguda. Las
guías ESC 2025 la definen, en
términos prácticos, como miocarditis
A diferencia de una miocarditis no
complicada, la MF no permite una
secuencia diagnóstica lenta. El
paciente puede llegar a emergencias
con dolor torácico, disnea, síncope,
síntomas gastrointestinales o un
pródromo infeccioso inespecífico y
deteriorarse rápidamente hacia
aguda
con
inestabilidad
requiere
hemodinámica
que
inotrópicos y/o soporte circulatorio
mecánico (MCS) [1]. El documento
científico de la American Heart
Association
destacado que su combinación de
shock cardiogénico, arritmias
ventriculares o bradiarritmias graves
(AHA)
ya
había
hipotensión,
hipoperfusión,
taquiarritmias ventriculares, bloqueo