COVID-19 Vaccination-Induced Myopericarditis: An Imager's Perspective

COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis is a rare adverse event in the current pandemic. The following is a case series of 10 individuals with COVID-19 vaccine-related myocarditis confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. In this cohort of predominantly male patients, with mean age of 23 years, chest discomfort and positive cardiac biomarkers occurred at a median of 3 days after the second COVID-19 vaccine dose. Although systolic function was relatively preserved on noninvasive cardiac imaging, evidence was seen of delayed enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, confirming myocarditis. As COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis has a relatively benign clinical course, the benefits of vaccination still, by far, outweigh this small risk.

Automated summary

This case series presents 10 individuals with COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were predominantly male with an average age of 23 years. Chest discomfort and positive cardiac biomarkers occurred at a median of 3 days after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Noninvasive cardiac imaging showed relatively preserved systolic function, but delayed enhancement was observed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, confirming the presence of myocarditis.