Long COVID-19 Myocarditis and Various Heart Failure Presentations: A Case Series

Justyna Rohun1, Karolina Dorniak2, Anna Faran1

  • 1Department of Cardiology and Electrotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-214 Gdansk, Poland.

Insights

Long COVID myocarditis can cause dangerous heart failure after COVID-19 infection. Prompt medical treatment improved cardiac function and symptoms in patients with this serious complication.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic is linked to potential long-term cardiovascular complications.
  • Myocarditis following COVID-19 infection presents a significant danger, with varied clinical manifestations from asymptomatic cases to severe heart failure (HF).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of heart failure secondary to myocarditis in adult patients post-COVID-19 infection.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective case-series design was employed.
  • Three adult patients with new-onset heart failure attributed to myocarditis after COVID-19 infection were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • All patients presented with symptomatic heart failure of varying severity, including reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and ventricular arrhythmias in one case.
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed prior myocarditis in all participants.
  • Optimal medical management led to improved cardiac function and symptom resolution in all cases.

Conclusions:

  • Long COVID myocarditis is a severe potential complication of COVID-19, manifesting heterogeneously.
  • The diverse clinical symptoms and limited specific diagnostic tools pose a risk of misdiagnosis and progression of heart failure.

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