The presence of a scar, assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac resonance imaging (CMR), is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathy. But the prognostic relevance of isolated non-ischemic LGE (i.e. with no underlying labelled cardiomyopathy) is unclear, and current guidelines do not state on the clearance of athlete with this type of findings as regards to competitive or intense sport practice.~The objective of the study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of athletes with isolated non-ischemic LGE with no underlying labelled cardiomyopathy during a five-years follow-up. The secondary objective is the determination of prognostic factors based on the baseline inclusion data: indication of CMR (i.e. symptoms, abnormal ECG, presence and morphology of arrhythmias, abnormal echocardiography); localization and amount of LGE, left and right ventricular geometry and function, characteristics of sport practice (amount, type, competition).~The management of the athletes will be let at the appraisal of each centre, as regards to the initial assessment, the follow-up and the medical clearance for competitive sports participation. Nevertheless, due to the absence of consensus, we propose that the patient should at least undergo clinical examination, ECG, echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and holter ECG each year. A CMR should be performed at one and five years.
The prognostic relevance of isolated non-ischemic LGE (i.e. with no underlying labelled cardiomyopathy) is unclear, and current guidelines to not state on the clearance of athlete with this type of findings as regards to competitive or intense sport practice.~The principal objective of the study is to evaluate during a five-years follow up, the clinical outcome of athletes with this kind of findings. The secondary objective is the determination of prognostic factors. The management and follow-up of the athletes will be let at the appraisal of each center.