Cardiogenic Shock due to COVID-19-Related Myocarditis in a 19-Year-Old Autistic Patient

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mainly responsible for respiratory involvement but cardiac complications are also reported. Nevertheless, potential life-threatening conditions in young people have not been described. A 19-year-old male autistic patient was admitted with fever and cough. The chest radiography showed viral pneumonia and the nasopharyngeal swab detected SARS-CoV-2. He rapidly developed hypotension, oliguria and increased myocardial injury markers and was treated with adrenaline, antiviral drugs and mechanical ventilation. Echocardiography revealed diffuse myocardial hypo-akinesia and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). After several days of treatment, the patient was weaned off mechanical ventilation, LVEF recovered to 50% and laboratory tests showed a decrease of markers of myocardial injury. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can therefore severely affect myocardium with life-threatening complications and even young people can be involved.

J Med Cases. 2020;11(7):207-210
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3517