COVID-19-associated myocarditis: Screening for early diagnosis

Authors

Yousuf Khan, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Salmman Ahmed, Saint James School of Medicine, St. Vincent and the GrenadinesFollow
Samuel John Wlasowicz, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Ronald G. Lott III, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Xavier C. Zonna, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus (causing COVID-19), has infected about 770 million people, and caused the death of about 6.9 million people worldwide in the span of three years (John Hopkins Resource Center). Common symptoms of a patient infected with the virus include shortness of breath, fever, chills, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, and muscle aches. However, recent studies have also shown a prevalence of patients presenting with cardiac inflammation (endocarditis, myocarditis or pericarditis) as a potential comorbidity, both during the infectious stage as well as after the infection has subsided. A pattern of specific clinical markers may be indicative of potential heart inflammation, particularly myocarditis. Screening for these clinical markers, such as troponin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in COVID-19 patients may allow for earlier identification, diagnosis, and treatment of a potentially life threatening comorbidity. This article briefly explains the underlying mechanisms of COVID-19-induced cardiac inflammation, and discusses prognostic indicators clinicians can take advantage of to effectively diagnose and treat patients.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Recommended Citation

Khan Y, Ahmed S, Wlasowicz SJ, Lott RG, Zonna XC. COVID-19-associated myocarditis: Screening for early diagnosis. Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery. 2024; 4(1). doi: 10.53785/2769-2779.1195.