Key result
Endomyocardial biopsy detected persisting cardiac SARS-CoV-2 mRNA in two patients with clinically suspected myocarditis and a history of COVID-19, despite negative nasopharyngeal swabs.
Why the study?
Myocardial injury in COVID-19 increases morbidity and mortality, but whether SARS-CoV-2 can persist in the myocardium in patients with suspected myocarditis who test negative on nasopharyngeal swab was unclear.
Case Report (n=2)
No
This report provides the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 mRNA can persist in the myocardium and cause subacute myocarditis even after nasopharyngeal swabs test negative for the virus.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Should not yet alter post-COVID myocarditis evaluation; hypothesis-generating for cardiac viral persistence and needs prospective confirmation.
Wenzel et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Clinically suspected myocarditis (n=2). Endomyocardial biopsy was evaluated on Presence of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA in endomyocardial biopsy. Endomyocardial biopsy detected persisting cardiac SARS-CoV-2 mRNA in two patients with clinically suspected myocarditis and a history of COVID-19, despite negative nasopharyngeal swabs.
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