Acute myocarditis associated with COVID-19 infection

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• COVID-19 infection can manifest with diverse clinical presentations.
• Cardiovascular complications are increasingly recognized in COVID-19 patients.
• Myocarditis, or heart muscle inflammation, is a potential sequela of viral infections.

Observation:

• A 20-year-old male presented with fever and chest pain.
• Chest CT showed subpleural consolidation with ground-glass opacification.
• Elevated cardiac biomarkers (troponin I, CK-MB) indicated myocyte necrosis.

Findings:

• Nasopharyngeal swab confirmed COVID-19 positivity.
• Cardiac MRI revealed myocardial edema and late gadolinium enhancement.
• Findings were consistent with acute myocarditis secondary to COVID-19.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates that acute myocarditis can be the initial presentation of COVID-19.
• Early recognition of cardiac involvement is crucial for timely management.
• Highlights the need for cardiac evaluation in COVID-19 patients with suggestive symptoms.