COVID-19 Myocarditis: An Emerging Clinical Conundrum
Ivana Okor1, Tamunoinemi Bob-Manuel2, Justin Price1
1John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Insights
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause heart inflammation (myocarditis). This review explores COVID-19
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health crisis, primarily known for respiratory illness.
- Emerging evidence links COVID-19 to significant cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis.
- Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, is often viral but its specific role in COVID-19 requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical presentation of myocarditis in COVID-19 patients.
- To explore the proposed pathophysiology of cardiac injury in COVID-19.
- To discuss differential diagnoses and management strategies for COVID-19-associated myocarditis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing case reports and studies.
- Analysis of clinical data on COVID-19 patients with cardiac involvement.
- Synthesis of current understanding regarding viral-induced myocarditis.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 can present with various cardiovascular issues, notably myocarditis.
- The exact mechanisms of cardiac injury in COVID-19-related myocarditis are still under investigation.
- Myocarditis in COVID-19 patients shows diverse clinical presentations.
Conclusions:
- Myocarditis is a recognized, albeit not fully understood, cardiovascular complication of COVID-19.
- Further research is crucial to elucidate the pathophysiology and guide optimal management.
- Prompt recognition and appropriate care are essential for patients with COVID-19 and suspected myocarditis.
Abstract:
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a significant cause of global mortality and morbidity since it was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. COVID19 like previous coronaviruses primarily affects the lungs causing pneumonia, interstitial pneumonitis, and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, there is increasing evidence linking COVID-19 to cardiovascular complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, fulminant myocarditis, and cardiac death. Given the novelty of this virus, there is paucity of data on some cardiovascular complications of COVID-19, specifically myocarditis. Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle with a heterogenous clinical presentation and progression. It is mostly caused by viral infections and is the result of interaction of the virus and the host's immune system. There have been several case reports linking COVID-19 with myocarditis, however the true mechanism of cardiac injury remains under investigation. In this paper we review the clinical presentation, proposed pathophysiology, differential diagnoses and management of myocarditis in COVID-19 patients.
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