When enteritis reaches the heart: acute Campylobacter jejuni-associated perimyocarditis in a young adult

Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, while cardiac involvement is a rare extraintestinal complication. We report the case of a 21-year-old immunocompetent man who developed acute perimyocarditis three days after microbiologically confirmed C. jejuni enteritis. He presented with pleuritic chest pain, elevated inflammatory markers, and increased high-sensitivity troponin I levels. Echocardiography showed preserved ventricular function, whereas cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) demonstrated myocardial edema and subepicardial-to-mid-myocardial late gadolinium enhancement, fulfilling the Revised Lake Louise Criteria for acute myocarditis. The patient had an uncomplicated clinical course and was discharged in stable condition. This case highlights the importance of considering perimyocarditis in young patients presenting with chest pain following recent gastroenteritis and underscores the diagnostic value of CMR.