A 39-year-old woman was admitted with chest pain, orthopnea, and cough that had arisen for 1 week before admission. Also, she had a history of asthma. Vital signs were as follows: body temperature = 37.2°C, systolic blood pressure = 100/60 mmHg, heart rate = 125/min, and O2 saturation = 90% without oxygenation. The ECG showed sinus tachycardia. The patient had a positive nasal and oropharyngeal PCR test for COVID-19 and the lung CT scan showed GGO in both lungs (Figure ). Echocardiography represented an LVEF of 30%–35%, normal LV size, mild RV enlargement (restrictive diastolic pattern), moderate tricuspid and mitral regurgitation, and mild pericardial effusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR or cardiac MRI) imaging showed myocardial edema and hyperemia suggestive of active myocarditis. Also, coronary CT angiography was normal. Subepicardial and subendocardial fibrosis in the middle part of the inferoseptal wall was also present. Her vital signs and oxygen saturation (98% on room air) improved after dexamethasone administration for 3 days. Echocardiography revealed an LVEF of 45% and a hypermobile thrombus in the LV (1.5 × 1.5 cm; Figure ). Although the cardiac surgeon suggested surgical removal of the thrombus, the patient refused the surgery. So, the patient was subjected to anticoagulation therapy (heparin 24,000 U/24 h). After 3 days, the thrombus had disappeared on the echocardiography, and there were no clues of embolism. The patient was discharged in a satisfying condition on β-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, spironolactone, and warfarin. Follow-up of the patient for 3 months showed an LVEF of 45%–50%.
A 34-year-old woman was admitted with complaint of losing consciousness and she had also been suffering from fever and headache for six consecutive days. Vital signs were as follows: body temperature = 36.7°C, systolic blood pressure = 80/60 mmHg, heart rate = 114/min, and O2 saturation = 82% without oxygenation. Also, the GCS score equaled 8. The ECG monitoring revealed ventricular tachycardia (Figure ); so, the direct current (DC) shock was administered and the patient was intubated. Echocardiography showed normal LV and RV size, moderate tricuspid and mitral regurgitation, systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 30 mmHg, and LVEF of 30%. The chest CT scan illustrated bilateral GGO and basal consolidations (Figure ) as well as the patient had a positive nasal and oropharyngeal PCR test for COVID-19. The patient received broad-spectrum antibiotics (meropenem [500 mg q8 h for 5 days] and doxycycline [200 mg/day]), high-dose corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 1 g/day), and remdesivir for COVID-19. The patient was discharged after 3 weeks with LVEF of 40%–45% and normal cardiac biomarkers. Follow-up of the patient for 3 months showed an LVEF of 45%–50%.