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The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2-related myocarditis requires confirmation by endomyocardial biopsy or autopsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2025

Josef Finsterer*
Affiliation:
Neurology and Neurophysiology Centre, Vienna, Austria
Claudia Stöllberger
Affiliation:
Second Medical Department, Krankenanstal Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria
*
Corresponding author: Josef Finsterer; Email: fifigs1@yahoo.de
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Abstract

Type
Letter to the Editor
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

We read with interest the article by Suarez et al. about a 10-year-old girl with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (dCMP) and a history of heart failure (HF) that recurred after SARS-CoV-2 infection (SC2I). Reference Suarez, Menezes, Brito and Larango1 Although the patient benefited from adequate HF therapy and remdesivir for SC2I, she eventually had to undergo heart transplantation (HTX) 7 months after SC2I. Reference Suarez, Menezes, Brito and Larango1 The study is encouraging, but several points should be discussed.

The first point is that myocarditis was suspected on the basis of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI. However, the patient did not undergo an endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) to determine whether the deterioration in dCMP was indeed due to SARS-CoV-2-related myocarditis. To determine whether the LGE is indeed inflammation and not edema or connective tissue, an EMB would have been mandatory. Complications of EMB are generally rare.

The second point is that the cause of the dilated CMP is not clear. Was it primary or secondary? Was the family history positive for dCMP? Was a genetic panel performed for mutations in genes associated with dCMP? Was the family history positive for a hereditary disease in general?

The third point is that the explanted heart was not tested for myocarditis, SARS-CoV-2 or the cause of dCMP. To determine whether dCMP is a primary or secondary disease, it would have been useful to perform an autopsy of the explanted heart. Was SARS-CoV-2 isolated from the explanted heart?

The fourth point is that LGE can also be due to myocardial fibrosis and does not necessarily represent edema or myocarditis. Reference Zhi, Gui and Xue2 Did the LGE persist after the myocarditis subsided? In the case of fibrosis, LGE usually persists.

The fifth point is that dCMP is often associated with neuromuscular disorders. Reference van der Bijl, Delgado, Bootsma and Bax3 Was there evidence of muscle weakness or wasting in the index patient? Was creatine kinase elevated? dCMP may even be the first manifestation of, for example, dystrophinopathies. Reference Del Rio-Pertuz, Morataya, Parmar, Dubay and Argueta-Sosa4 Has the patient ever been examined by a neurologist? Did the patient develop progressive neurological abnormalities over time?

The sixth point is that LGE can also be associated with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). Reference Moustafa, Patton and Al Shanawani5 Was there any evidence of LVNC on echocardiography or cardiac MRI? Was the LGE due to myocarditis, fibrosis or LVNC?

The seventh point is that the time course is unclear. Reference Suarez, Menezes, Brito and Larango1 In the case description, the first echocardiogram was performed in March 2021 and another one 9 months later. However, the discussion mentions that the HTX was performed seven months after the SC2I. This discrepancy should be clarified.

Since the patient had received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) prior to HTX, it would be interesting to know if the ICD was ever discharged.

To summarize, this interesting study has limitations that put the results and their interpretation into perspective. Addressing these limitations could strengthen the conclusions and support the message of the study. All unresolved issues need to be addressed before readers can uncritically accept the study’s conclusions. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2-related myocarditis requires confirmation by EMB or autopsy.

Availability of data and material

All data are available from the corresponding author.

Acknowledgements

None.

Author contributions

JF was responsible for the design and conception, discussed available data with coauthors, wrote the first draft, and gave final approval. CS, FS, AF: contributed to literature search, discussion, correction, and final approval.

Financial support

None received.

Completing interests

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participation

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

References

Suarez, J, Menezes, I, Brito, MJ, Larango, S. Acute myocarditis in a paediatric patient with pre-existing dilated cardiomyopathy following SARS-COV-2 infection: a journey from decompensation to heart transplantation. Cardiol Young 2024; 7: 14. doi: 10.1017/S1047951124026313.Google Scholar
Zhi, Y, Gui, FD, Xue, M, et al. Focal ischemic myocardial fibrosis assessed by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2024; 24: 203. doi: 10.1186/s12872-024-03859-2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van der Bijl, P, Delgado, V, Bootsma, M, Bax, JJ. Risk stratification of genetic, dilated cardiomyopathies associated with neuromuscular disorders: role of cardiac imaging. Circulation 2018; 137: 25142527. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.031110.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Del Rio-Pertuz, G, Morataya, C, Parmar, K, Dubay, S, Argueta-Sosa, E. Dilated cardiomyopathy as the initial presentation of Becker muscular dystrophy: a systematic review of published cases. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17: 194. doi: 10.1186/s13023-022-02346-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moustafa, S, Patton, DJ, Al Shanawani, M, et al. Unusual myocardial late gadolinium enhancement in isolated noncompaction cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography 2015; 32: 400402. doi: 10.1111/echo.12778.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed