When enteritis reaches the heart: acute Campylobacter jejuni–associated perimyocarditis in a young adult

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in a 21-year-old man was followed three days later by acute perimyocarditis, which was diagnosed via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and resolved completely.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Campylobacter jejuni-associated perimyocarditis (n=1). Intervention: Campylobacter jejuni infection.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Campylobacter jejuni enteritis can lead to acute perimyocarditis as an extraintestinal complication in young adults, presenting with preserved ventricular function and resolving with an uncomplicated clinical course. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Margherita Scapaticci; Monica Vignoli; Sebastiano Nigro; Mauro Colletta; Rita Mancini; Andrea Bartolini

doi:10.53854/liim-3403-11

September 1, 2026Infezioni in MedicinaOpen Access

When enteritis reaches the heart: acute Campylobacter jejuni–associated perimyocarditis in a young adult

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Key result

Campylobacter jejuni enteritis triggers acute perimyocarditis confirmed by CMR before complete resolution.

n=1

Why the study?

Cardiac involvement as a rare extraintestinal complication of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis is not well characterized.

Key Points

To describe a rare case of acute perimyocarditis developing as an extraintestinal complication following microbiologically confirmed Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in a young immunocompetent adult.
A clinical case evaluation of a 21-year-old immunocompetent male presenting with pleuritic chest pain three days after confirmed C. jejuni gastroenteritis.
Diagnostic workup included serial high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) monitoring, 12-lead ECG, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.
Outpatient follow-up assessments with biomarker evaluations were conducted at approximately 4 months and 12 months.
Laboratory testing revealed peak hs-TnI of 7402.4 ng/L (reference URL 19.8 ng/L) and CRP of 21.79 mg/dL on Day 1, which progressively declined to <2.3 ng/L and 0.31 mg/dL by ~4-month follow-up.
Transthoracic echocardiography showed preserved global systolic function (LVEF 55%), while CMR revealed myocardial edema (T2 relaxation time 85 ms vs. reference 48 ± 3 ms; native T1 1200 ms vs. reference 983 ± 26 ms) and subepicardial-to-mid-myocardial late gadolinium enhancement in the basal inferolateral wall, fulfilling the Revised Lake Louise Criteria.
The patient had an uncomplicated hospital course without arrhythmias or heart failure, achieving complete resolution of symptoms and biomarker normalization at ~12-month follow-up (hs-TnI 2.8 ng/L).

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P

Population

A 21-year-old immunocompetent man who presented with acute perimyocarditis following a recent episode of Campylobacter jejuni gastroenteritis, followed for 12 months.

This case highlights the importance of considering perimyocarditis in young patients presenting with chest pain following recent gastroenteritis, and underscores the diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance.

Implication

May warrant considering perimyocarditis after Campylobacter enteritis; leaves open its incidence and causality in larger cohorts.

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, while cardiac involvement is a rare extraintestinal complication.We report the case of a 21-year-old immunocompetent man who developed acute perimyocarditis three days after microbiologically confirmed C. jejuni enteritis.He presented with pleuritic chest pain, elevated inflammatory markers, and increased high-sensitivity troponin I levels.Echocardiography showed preserved ventricular function, whereas cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) demonstrated myocardial edema and subepicardial-tomid-myocardial late gadolinium enhancement, fulfill-ing the Revised Lake Louise Criteria for acute myocarditis.The patient had an uncomplicated clinical course and was discharged in stable condition.This case highlights the importance of considering perimyocarditis in young patients presenting with chest pain following recent gastroenteritis and underscores the diagnostic value of CMR.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Scapaticci et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Campylobacter jejuni-associated perimyocarditis (n=1). Campylobacter jejuni infection was evaluated. Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in a 21-year-old man was followed three days later by acute perimyocarditis, which was diagnosed via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and resolved completely.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ad0fcf33afa093ea9ad00ff https://doi.org/10.53854/liim-3403-11

Topics

Myocarditis

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When enteritis reaches the heart: acute Campylobacter jejuni–associated perimyocarditis in a young adult

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Topics

When enteritis reaches the heart: acute Campylobacter jejuni–associated perimyocarditis in a young adult

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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