Subclinical pericarditis long after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report

Abstract

We describe a rare complication of COVID-19 long after infection in a 76-years-old man presented to the Emergency Department with dyspnea and palpitations. A 12-lead Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus tachycardia PR depression in the inferior leads associated with an apparent pseudo ST elevation. In the absence of elevation of inflammatory indices, considering the lack of symptoms neither NSAIDs nor colchicine were prescribed, and the patient was referred for clinical follow-up. After ten days ECG documented initial reduction of the widespread concave STE and PR depression, and the 1-month follow- up visit, the patient was asymptomatic with unremarkable physical examination, and a 12-lead ECG showed almost complete normalization of the ST and PR segments. Although pericardial involvement after COVID-19 infection has been already described, the incidence of subclinical pericarditis has not and may have implications for the monitoring of patients with uncomplicated COVID-19 infection managed as outpatients.

Keywords

• Long covid
• pericarditis
• subclinical pericarditis