Sudden onset of chest pain in SARS-CoV-2 patients: Myocarditis or acute coronary syndrome? A case series

Abstract

The most common symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome–COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are fever and cough, followed by headache, fatigue, or shortness of breath. The most severe presentations include pneumonia (91.1%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (67%). In this case series, we report the evidence of cardiac tissue inflammation as a possible sequela of the respiratory infection. In May 2021, 16 patients (median age: 43 years, 10 males and 6 females) out of 95 patients, between the 6th and 10th days following admission in the intensive care unit, complained of sudden onset of excruciating chest pain. Changes in electrocardiography rhythm with evidence for diffuse ischemia were supported by positive Trop-T and echo findings in most of the patients. In this case series, we report the evidence of cardiac tissue inflammation as a possible sequel of the respiratory infection.

Keywords

• chest pain
• covid-19
• myocardial infarction
• myocarditis
• pneumonia