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Case Reports
. 2020 Jul 8;12(7):e9074.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.9074.

Acute Effusive Pericarditis: A Late Complication of COVID-19

Kelli Fox  1 , Jessica A Prokup  1 , Kyle Butson  1 , Kim Jordan  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute Effusive Pericarditis: A Late Complication of COVID-19

Kelli Fox et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, the medical community continues to discover novel clinical manifestations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Often, extrapulmonary manifestations occur simultaneously with pulmonary disease. However, there is a paucity of literature describing the cardiac manifestations of COVID-19 in the absence of pulmonary findings. We report a rare case of acute pericarditis presenting with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in a 43-year-old man diagnosed with COVID-19. This case emphasizes the importance of continued investigation regarding diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 and its related symptoms.

Keywords: covid-19; pericardial effusion; pericarditis; sars-cov-2; tamponade.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Electrocardiogram (EKG)
12-lead EKG demonstrates sinus tachycardia with diffuse concave ST-segment elevation as well as PR-segment depression, except in aVR showing PR elevation, consistent with acute pericarditis.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Chest X-ray
Chest X-ray demonstrates cardiomegaly with the absence of pulmonary infiltrates.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Parasternal long axis of transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
Parasternal long axis view of TTE demonstrates circumferential effusion in pericardial space (P). LV, left ventricle. RV, right ventricle.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Pulse-wave Doppler of left ventricular inflow on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
Pulse-wave Doppler of left ventricular inflow at mitral valve level on TTE demonstrates prominent inspiratory reduction in flow (Insp) compared to expiration (Exp), consistent with tamponade physiology.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Apical four chamber view at one month post discharge
Apical four chamber view on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) demonstrates resolution of pericardial effusion one month following discharge.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Parasternal long axis view on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) at one month post discharge
Parasternal long axis view of TTE demonstrates resolution of pericardial effusion one month following discharge.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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