Abstract
BackgroundMyocardial involvement induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection might be important for long-term prognosis. The aim of this observational study was to characterize the myocardial effects during SARS-CoV-2 infections by echocardiography.Results and methodsAn extended echocardiographic image acquisition protocol was performed in 18 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection assessing LV longitudinal, radial, and circumferential deformation including rotation, twist, and untwisting. Furthermore, LV deformation was analyzed in an age-matched control group of healthy individuals (n = 20). The most prevalent finding was a reduced longitudinal strain observed predominantly in more than one basal LV segment (n = 10/14 patients, 71%). This pattern reminded of a “reverse tako-tsubo” morphology that is not typical for other viral myocarditis. Additional findings included a biphasic pattern with maximum post-systolic or negative regional radial strain predominantly basal (n = 5/14 patients, 36%); the absence or dispersion of basal LV rotation (n = 6/14 patients, 43%); a reduced or positive regional circumferential strain in more than one segment (n = 7/14 patients, 50%); a net rotation showing late post-systolic twist or biphasic pattern (n = 8/14 patients, 57%); a net rotation showing polyphasic pattern and/or higher maximum net values during diastole (n = 8/14 patients, 57%).ConclusionMyocardial involvement due to SARS-CoV-2-infection was highly prevalent in the present cohort—even in patients with mild symptoms. It appears to be characterized by specific speckle tracking deformation abnormalities in the basal LV segments. These data set the stage to prospectively test whether these parameters are helpful for risk stratification and for the long-term follow-up of these patients.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 which may lead to life-threatening severe acute respiratory syndromes, especially in high-risk patients [1,2,3,4,5]
The present paper describes the experience at the Leipzig University Hospital in detecting myocardial involvement in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients by echocardiography using a specialized extended imaging and analysis protocol to analyze different components of myocardial deformation [19]
LV deformation could not have been analyzed by 3D echocardiography, because bed-side 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) could not be performed at the isolation wards
Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) which may lead to life-threatening severe acute respiratory syndromes, especially in high-risk patients [1,2,3,4,5]. Myocardial involvement induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection might be important for long-term prognosis. The most prevalent finding was a reduced longitudinal strain observed predominantly in more than one basal LV segment (n = 10/14 patients, 71%). This pattern reminded of a “reverse tako-tsubo” morphology that is not typical for other viral myocarditis. Conclusion Myocardial involvement due to SARS-CoV-2-infection was highly prevalent in the present cohort—even in patients with mild symptoms. It appears to be characterized by specific speckle tracking deformation abnormalities in the basal LV segments. These data set the stage to prospectively test whether these parameters are helpful for risk stratification and for the long-term follow-up of these patients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
