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Case Reports
. 2022 Sep 7;4(17):1090-1093.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2022.05.015.

Complex Management Decisions in a Professional Athlete With Recurrent Pericarditis

Benjamin M Klein  1 , Eunice S Dugan  2 , Andrew D LaCombe  2 , Nicholas P Ruthmann  2 , Eric E Roselli  3   4 , Allan L Klein  2   5 , Michael S Emery  2   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Complex Management Decisions in a Professional Athlete With Recurrent Pericarditis

Benjamin M Klein et al. JACC Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 32-year-old professional athlete developed chronic recurrent pericarditis despite standard medical therapy. Etiology included postpericardiotomy syndrome, viral, or COVID-19 vaccine related, all potentially exacerbated by intense exercise. Treatment and return-to-play decisions were complicated by potential side-effect profile of therapies and ability to limit exercise as a professional athlete. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Keywords: CMR, cardiac magnetic resonance; COVID-19; CTS, cardiothoracic surgery; IL, interleukin; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication; athlete; exercise; pericarditis; postpericardiotomy; recurrence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr Roselli is a consultant and investigator for Edwards Lifesciences and Terumo Aortic. Dr Klein has received a research grant from and is on the advisory board for Kiniksa; and is on the advisory board for Cardiol Therapeutics and Pfizer. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline and Multimodality Imaging of Pericarditis in an Athlete (A) Postoperative ECG after direct-current cardioversion. (B) Three-month ECG with J-point/ST-segment elevation and PR depression. (C) Three-month echocardiogram with new circumferential pericardial effusion (arrows). (D) Three-month CMR with circumferential pericardial effusion and pericardial delayed enhancement (arrows). (E) Six-month ECG with resolved changes. (F) Six-month echocardiogram with resolved effusion. (G) Six-month CMR with near resolution of delayed pericardial enhancement. CMR = cardiac magnetic resonance; ECG = electrocardiogram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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