Recurrent Chest Pain After COVID-19: Diagnostic Utility of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Manavotam Singh1, Neil Mehta1,2, Fatima Hayat3

  • 1MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.

CJC Open
|August 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Myocarditis following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can mimic heart attacks, presenting with chest pain and ST-segment elevation weeks after recovery. Cardiac MRI is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring this COVID-19 complication.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with various cardiac complications.
  • Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, is a recognized but often underdiagnosed sequela of COVID-19.

Observation:

  • A case of adult myocarditis following COVID-19 infection is presented.
  • The patient exhibited recurrent ST-segment elevation mimicking coronary vasospasm.
  • Symptoms, including chest pain, appeared several weeks after initial COVID-19 recovery.

Findings:

  • COVID-19-related myocarditis can present with acute cardiac manifestations.
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) revealed findings consistent with myocarditis.
  • Late gadolinium enhancement and high T2 signal on CMR are diagnostic indicators.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the diverse clinical presentations of COVID-19 myocarditis.
  • CMR is essential for diagnosing myocarditis in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries.
  • Serial CMR can aid in evaluating the resolution of COVID-19-induced myocarditis.

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