Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19: Case report and concise review

Oryshchyn, N.; Ivaniv, Y.

Introduction. COVID-19 infection, which seemed to be respiratory infection at the beginning of pandemic, involves different systems of organs. One of the most vulnerable systems is cardiovascular system, due to the specific mechanism of viral entrance, endothelial damage, and the immune response of the human body. The aim of our study is to present our own case report of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 and to review literature on this topic. Presentation of the case. We presents a case of COVID-associated myocarditis in a patient. The diagnosis was established after we revealed decrease of left ventricular contractility after COVID-19, elevated C-reactive protein, absence of new ischemic ECG changes. We managed the patient with anti-inflammatory treatment and anticoagulation. Discussion. In the review we analyzed mechanisms of the cardiovascular system impairment in COVID-19, possible scenario of clinical manifestation of cardiac complications, diagnostic methods and recommendation for treatment. Conclusion. Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 are presented with 2 groups of pathology. The first is vascular pathology, due to endothelial damage and hypercoagulation (pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, stroke). Myocarditis is a different cardiac complication of COVID-19. Anticoagulation and anti-inflammatory treatment are the cornerstone in the treatment of cardiac comoplication in COVID-19. © Nelya Oryshchyn, Yurii Ivaniv, 2020.