A Case Report for Myopericarditis after BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in a Korean Young Male

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Mass vaccination campaigns, including the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2), have led to reports of adverse effects globally.
• Myopericarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle and surrounding sac, is a recognized but rare potential side effect of certain vaccines.

Observation:

• A 29-year-old male military service member presented with chest discomfort and exertional chest pain following his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• Clinical evaluation revealed elevated cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic evidence of minimal pericardial effusion, consistent with myopericarditis.

Findings:

• The patient was initially treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on an outpatient basis due to mild symptoms.
• Insufficient response led to a shift in treatment to a combination therapy including low-dose corticosteroids and NSAIDs.
• Complete symptom resolution and normalization of echocardiographic findings occurred within 37 days of symptom onset.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of recognizing and managing vaccine-induced myopericarditis, even in young, otherwise healthy individuals.
• Successful treatment with corticosteroids and NSAIDs suggests effective therapeutic strategies are available for managing this rare adverse event.
• The complete recovery of this patient contributes valuable data on the prognosis of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine-associated myopericarditis.