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Case Reports
. 2021 Feb:62:225-227.
doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.01.053. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

Acute pericarditis revealing COVID-19 infection: Case report

Raid Faraj  1 , Chifaa Belkhayat  2 , Amine Bouchlarhem  1 , Ghizlane El Aidouni  1 , Houssam Bkiyar  1 , Brahim Housni  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute pericarditis revealing COVID-19 infection: Case report

Raid Faraj et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2021 Feb.

Abstract

The COVID-19 is a global pandemic that is now responsible for more than 2 million deaths around the world. Its clinical manifestations are well known such as fever, fatigue and other respiratory signs like severe cough, dyspnea. Cardiac involvement, however, is less recognized and often underestimated and could be the only manifestation of COVID-19. Case presentation: We report a case of pericarditis as the primary presentation of COVID-19 among a young, healthy individual with no medical background, in the absence of the conventional respiratory signs. The diagnosis was based on a set of clinical, biological, radiological and electrocardiographic findings. In this case, the treatment was based on the use of Colchicine in addition to COVID-19 treatment. The outcome was favorable; noticing regression of symptoms and disappearance of pericardial effusion within two weeks. Clinical discussion: Acute pericarditis has been widely described in literature as probable complication of COVID-19, yet only few articles have reported it as a primary manifestation of COVID-19. Conclusion: Chest pain could be the only presenting symptom of COVID-19 among young, healthy individuals.To that end, clinicians should recognize cardiac involvement of COVID-19 and act accordingly to isolate patients and further limit the spread of the disease.

Keywords: Acute pericarditis; COVID 19; Colchicine; Pericardial effusion.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ECG showing no abnormalities.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Chest xray revealing cardiomegaly and bilateral lung opacities.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Parasternal long axis view, showing pericardial effusion.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Crazy pavings and bilateral ground glass patterns.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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