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Crosier R, Kafil TS, Paterson DI. Imaging for Cardiovascular Complications of COVID-19: Cardiac Manifestations in Context. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:779-792. [PMID: 36731604 PMCID: PMC9886397 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
After the first confirmed case in 2019, COVID-19 rapidly spread worldwide and overwhelmed the medical community. In the intervening time, we have learned about COVID-19's clinical manifestations and have developed effective therapies and preventative vaccines. Severe COVID-19 infection is associated with many cardiovascular disorders in the acute phase, and patients recovered from illness can also manifest long-term sequelae, including long COVID syndrome. Furthermore, severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination can trigger rare cases of myopericarditis. We have gained significant knowledge of the acute and long-term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19- and mRNA vaccine-associated myocarditis through clinical and investigative studies using cardiac imaging. In this review, we describe how cardiovascular imaging can be used to understand the cardiovascular complications and cardiac injury associated with acute COVID-19 infection, review the imaging findings in patients recovered from illness, and discuss the role and limitations of cardiac imaging in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-associated myocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Crosier
- Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tahir S Kafil
- Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - D Ian Paterson
- Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Carretta DM, Silva AM, D’Agostino D, Topi S, Lovero R, Charitos IA, Wegierska AE, Montagnani M, Santacroce L. Cardiac Involvement in COVID-19 Patients: A Contemporary Review. Infect Dis Rep 2021; 13:494-517. [PMID: 34206074 PMCID: PMC8293198 DOI: 10.3390/idr13020048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The widely variable clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV2 disease (COVID-19) range from asymptomatic infections to multiple organ failure and death. Among the organs affected is the heart. This does not only affect people who already have previous cardiovascular problems, but also healthy people. This is a reason not to overlook any symptoms or to perform targeted examinations, even if apparently unrelated to the heart, for quick recognition and timely therapy. Aim of the study: This review recapitulates the current state of knowledge on the potential mechanisms and manifestation of myocarditis in patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods: A web-based search of published data was performed for all relevant studies on patients diagnosed with a COVID-19-induced acute myocarditis, and a total of 50 reports were included. The analysis of the studies evaluated highlights a male predominance, with the average age of patients being 55 years. The most common presenting symptoms included fever, shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Among ECG changes, non-specific ST-segment and T-wave amplitude alterations and ventricular tachycardia episodes were reported. Finally, we wanted to use a general evaluation without distinguishing between various countries, taking into consideration only the peer or reviewer, regardless of the declared value of the journals that have been published. Results and critical findings: The most common presenting symptoms included fever, shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Among ECG changes, non-specific ST-segment and T-wave amplitude alterations and ventricular tachycardia episodes were reported. In most patients, elevated levels of cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers were measured. Left ventricular dysfunction and hypokinesis were commonly exhibited symptoms. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMRI) confirmed the diagnosis of myocarditis with features of cardiac edema and cardiac injury. Nine patients underwent histopathological examination. Treatment with corticosteroids and immunoglobulins was the most applied strategy following the administration of antivirals. Discussion: Despite the exponentially growing knowledge on the management of COVID-19 infection, current available data on SARS-CoV2-correlated myocarditis are still limited, and several difficulties may be encountered in the differential diagnosis of acute myocarditis in the context of COVID-19 disease. Conclusions: While diagnostic criteria and evaluation strategies for myocarditis are well described, no guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myocarditis in COVID-19 patients have yet been established. Therefore, further research is needed to advance the understanding of this disease process and define the most appropriate strategic approach in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Maria Carretta
- AOU Policlinico Consorziale di Bari-Ospedale Giovanni XXIII, Coronary Unit and Electrophysiology/Pacing Unit, Cardio-Thoracic Department, Policlinico University Hospital of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Aline Maria Silva
- AOU Policlinico Consorziale di Bari-Ospedale Giovanni XXIII, Cardiac Surgery, Policlinico University Hospital of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.M.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Donato D’Agostino
- AOU Policlinico Consorziale di Bari-Ospedale Giovanni XXIII, Cardiac Surgery, Policlinico University Hospital of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.M.S.); (D.D.)
| | - Skender Topi
- Department of Clinical Disciplines, School of Technical Medical Sciences, University of Elbasan “A. Xhuvani”, 3001 Elbasan, Albania;
| | - Roberto Lovero
- AOU Policlinico Consorziale di Bari-Ospedale Giovanni XXIII, Clinical Pathology Unit, Policlinico University Hospital of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Ioannis Alexandros Charitos
- Emergency/Urgent Department, National Poisoning Center, Riuniti University Hospital of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
- Correspondence: (I.A.C.); (L.S.)
| | - Angelika Elzbieta Wegierska
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Monica Montagnani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology—Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Policlinico University Hospital of Bari, p.zza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Luigi Santacroce
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Microbiology and Virology Unit, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy;
- Correspondence: (I.A.C.); (L.S.)
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