Coronavirus disease 2019

In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound, researchers in Italy reported cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings in individuals ...

Over 26% (n=6) of patients were diagnosed with miscellaneous cardiomyopathies such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), prolapse of the mitral valve with arrhythmogenic features, and myocardial non-compaction in three, two, and one patients, respectively. Over 52% (n=9) of individuals showed myocarditis diagnosis criteria and focal-type edema in 78% (n=7) of patients, involving mainly the inferior part of the middle-basal wall and septum (67%, n=5). The right ventricular (RV) systolic functioning was normal in 94% (n=16) cases [right ventricular (RV)-EF of 63%), with normal values for the RV volume indices, except in one ICU-admitted patient with mild RV dilation (RV-end diastolic volume index (EDVi) value of 97.0 ml per square meter) and moderate RV systolic derangement (RV-EF of 40%) with LGE and diffuse-type edema of RV free wall, indicative of myocarditis. [Journal of Clinical Ultrasound](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcu.23416), researchers in Italy reported cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings in individuals with myocarditis-like syndrome during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection (AMCovS) and post-acute phase (cPACS). In the cPACS group, 22 individuals (64% male, median patient age was 38 years) underwent CMR imaging due to persistent cardiac symptoms such as dyspnea (45%, n=10) and recurring pain in the chest (55%, n=12). In AMCovS patients, left ventricular (LV) systolic functioning was normal in 88% (n=15) of patients (LV-ejection fraction (EF) of 65%), and the median LV volume index values were normal. Ten individuals had a prior history of COVID-19-associated hospitalization with increased hs-cTnT levels among seven individuals (median peak at 238 ng/L) without any history of obstructive-type CAD (coronary artery disease). In addition, all individuals (except for one patient) showed non-ischemic LGE involving the inferior wall and the septum (63%, n=5), with a minor scar burden affecting 1.0% of myocardial mass. In 24% (n=4) of patients, focal-type edema with ischemic LGE was observed in four myocardial segments, indicative of acute myocardial infarctions. Data were obtained from RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals with clinically suspected myocarditis in the acute and post-acute COVID-19 phases, for whom 1.5 Tesla CMR imaging was performed between September 2020 and January 2022. Study: [Cardiac magnetic resonance findings in acute and post-acute COVID-19 patients with suspected myocarditis](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcu.23416). Cardiovascular injury has been frequently observed among SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals since angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, essential for SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host, are present in the heart.