Key result
Active SARS-CoV-2 transcription persists in cardiomyocytes of all 6 deceased COVID-19 patients lacking clinical cardiac signs.
Why the study?
The viral impact of SARS-CoV-2 in cardiomyocytes of COVID-19 patients without clinical signs of cardiac involvement requires further investigation.
Observational (n=6)
SARS-CoV-2 actively infects cardiomyocytes and causes subcellular damage even in patients without clinical signs of cardiac involvement, suggesting a need for long-term cardiologic surveillance in survivors.
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Hypothesis-generating for subclinical cardiomyocyte infection in COVID-19; prospective studies needed before considering surveillance in survivors.
Bulfamante et al. (2020) conducted an observational in COVID-19 (n=6). SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated on Presence and activity of SARS-CoV-2 in cardiomyocytes. SARS-CoV-2 presence and active viral transcription were detected in the cardiomyocytes of all 6 deceased COVID-19 patients without clinical signs of cardiac involvement.
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