The importance of myocarditis in Covid-19

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of Covid-19 is a real threat to public health. It causes cardiovascular complications such as acute myocardial injury and myocarditis. Symptoms of myocarditis vary from chest pain, tachycardia, or chest tightness. Inotropes and/or vasopressors and mechanical ventilation are the protocols for cardiogenic shock in patients with myocarditis. Some previous studies stated that the mechanism of cardiac injury is not well defined but, it can be due to direct myocardial infection, respiratory failure or hypoxemia, and indirect injury from systemic inflammatory response separately or all three factors together. The pathologic processes included direct myocardial injury by virus binding to ACE2, systemic inflammation, altered myocardial demand-supply ratio, and plaque and coronary thrombosis. There are disagreements on the usage of corticosteroids in active-infection myocarditis. As everyday new complications of Covid-19 appear, there is a need for further research to overcome them. Aims: This narrative study aimed to assess the effect of Covid-19 on myocarditis.