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Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation
08:56

Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation

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COVID-19-associated myocarditis presenting as new-onset heart failure and atrial fibrillation

Sean Gaine1, Patrick Devitt2, John Joseph Coughlan3

  • 1Cardiology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

BMJ Case Reports
|July 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

This case report describes a 58-year-old man with new-onset atrial fibrillation and heart failure due to COVID-19-associated myocarditis. The findings emphasize that cardiac symptoms can occur without typical coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause various cardiac complications.
  • Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, is a recognized but less common manifestation of COVID-19.

Observation:

  • A 58-year-old man presented with palpitations and dyspnea, diagnosed with new-onset atrial fibrillation and severely impaired left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction 20%).
  • Cardiac MRI revealed generalized severe myocarditis.
  • SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing was positive.

Findings:

  • The patient was diagnosed with COVID-19-associated myocarditis based on cardiac MRI findings and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test.
  • This case demonstrates that COVID-19-associated myocarditis can manifest with new atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering COVID-19-associated myocarditis in patients presenting with new cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure, even in the absence of classic COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Early diagnosis and management of COVID-19-associated myocarditis are crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Keywords:
COVID-19arrhythmiaspericardial disease

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