Myocarditis in monkeypox-infected patients: a case series

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Monkeypox (MPXV) is a zoonotic orthopoxvirus causing outbreaks globally, primarily affecting men who have sex with men.
• Clinical manifestations typically include skin lesions, systemic symptoms, and less commonly, anorectal or ophthalmic involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe cases of myocarditis, a poorly documented complication, in patients with monkeypox infection.
• To highlight the association between MPXV and cardiac inflammatory conditions.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive case series was conducted in France in 2022.
• Three adult male patients with MPXV infection and subsequent myocarditis were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Patients presented with chest pain, elevated cardiac markers, and inflammatory syndrome consistent with myocarditis.
• Cardiac imaging revealed abnormalities including decreased ejection fraction and acute myocarditis.
• All patients showed rapid resolution of symptoms and laboratory abnormalities with treatment.

Conclusions:

• Monkeypox infection is associated with cardiac inflammatory complications like myocarditis.
• Chest pain in MPXV patients warrants immediate investigation for myocarditis.
• MPXV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of myocarditis, particularly in at-risk populations.