A 45-year-old man was admitted with a fever that lasted for 2 weeks, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain continued for 1 week. Vital signs were as follows: body temperature = 38.5°C, systolic blood pressure = 100/70 mmHg, heart rate = 90/min and, O2 saturation = 85% without oxygenation (90% with nasal oxygen therapy). The ECG showed sinus tachycardia, no significant changes in the ST-segment, low-voltage waves in the limb leads, and QRS alternans. The TTE revealed LVEF of 45%, normal LV size and function without regional wall motion abnormalities, and circumferential pericardial effusion without significant respiratory changes in the mitral and tricuspid valves (Figure ). Lung CT scan showed bilateral GGO suggestive of viral pneumonia (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]), corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/day), and remdesivir for COVID-19. However, the pericardial effusion was resolved by the third day after admission. Oxygen saturation increased to 95% after 5 days (without supplemental oxygen) and he was discharged in a satisfying condition. Follow-up of the patient for 3 months showed an LVEF of 45%, mild pericardial effusion, and normal right ventricular size and function.
An 18-year-old woman (with no underlying disease) was admitted with a sudden loss of consciousness, fever, and headache that had occurred for 2 days before admission. At the time of admission, vital signs were as follows: body temperature = 36.8°C, systolic blood pressure = 80/60 mmHg, heart rate = 110/min, and O2 saturation = 80% without oxygenation. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 11. She was intubated and treated with vasopressors. Also, rales were heard on pulmonary auscultation. Initial electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated sinus tachycardia (110/min) and low voltage QRS. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) indicated a small left ventricle (LV) with an end-diastolic dimension of 42 mm, a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 10% with global hypokinesis, a normal right ventricle (RV), and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), no pericardial effusion (PE) or thrombosis, and no significant valve lesions or dysfunction. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities (GGO) and basal consolidations (Figure ). Moreover, the patient had a positive nasal and oropharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19. Laboratory findings are summarized in Table . The patient received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG; 1 g/kg), broad-spectrum antibiotics (meropenem [500 mg] and doxycycline [200 mg/day]), high-dose corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 1 g/day), and remdesivir for COVID-19. However, she died due to cardiac arrest (less than 24 h after admission).