Key result
Endomyocardial biopsy confirms SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes and myocardial inflammation in late-onset heart failure.
Why the study?
Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 have been frequently reported, but evidence for a causal relationship with myocardial infection has not been established.
Case Report (n=1)
Demonstrates direct evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and inflammation in the myocardium of a patient with heart failure symptoms weeks after initial pulmonary infection.
SARS-CoV-2 detection in myocardium may indicate direct cardiac involvement; hypothesis-generating and leaves open causal role or management changes.
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has reached pandemic levels. Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 have been reported frequently, however evidence for a causal relationship has not been established. This report describes the detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes in a patient with symptoms of heart failure, in whom endomyocardial biopsy was investigated following a latency period of 4 weeks after the onset of pulmonary symptoms. The viral infection was accompanied by myocardial inflammation indicating an infection of the heart muscle.
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Pietsch et al. (2020) conducted a case report in COVID-19 and heart failure (n=1). SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated on Detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes and myocardial inflammation. SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes and myocardial inflammation were detected in an endomyocardial biopsy of a patient with heart failure symptoms 4 weeks after the onset of pulmonary symptoms.
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