Heart failure & cardiomyopathies

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Risk Stratification in Acute Myocarditis Across the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Spectrum

Eur J Heart FailPublished Multicentre cohort study

Authors' conclusion

While traditional definitions of high-risk AM remain valuable, NLR ≥4 is a simple and cost-effective marker that aids in risk stratification. NLR ≥4 is particularly robust in patients with preserved LVEF, supporting its use across the LVEF spectrum.

Study context

Population
Patients with biopsy- or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-proven acute myocarditis
Participants
1,150 patients10 hospitals6 countries
Exposure
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥4 vs complicated, fulminant and high-risk acute myocarditis (AM) definitions for risk prediction
Outcome
All-cause mortality and heart transplantation
Follow-up
Median 228 weeks (IQR 114-339)
Methodological details10 hospitals in six countries
  • 10 hospitals in six countries

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Prediction of primary outcome
GroupAUC
NLR ≥40.72
Complicated0.73
High-risk0.73
Fulminant0.62

AUC

NLR ≥40.72
Complicated0.73
High-risk0.73
Fulminant0.62
Fulminant classification significantly inferior predictive accuracy
P = 0.02

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeComplicatedHigh-riskNLR ≥4P value
Prediction of primary outcome, preserved LVEF (≥50%) (subgroup)NLR ≥4 vs ComplicatedP = 0.001
AUC0.520.520.73
Prediction of primary outcome, preserved LVEF (≥50%) (subgroup)NLR ≥4 vs High-riskP = 0.002

Multivariable analysis

Each classification independently associated with the primary outcome

Original publication

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Risk Stratification in Acute Myocarditis Across the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Spectrum. Eur J Heart Fail. Published 16 October 2025. doi:10.1002/ejhf.70072

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