COVID-19-associated myocarditis: single center experience of pathogenetic treatment

Abstract

The aim – to evaluate the effectiveness of glucocorticoid therapy in patients with myocarditis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction that developed after COVID-19 infection.Materials and methods. The results of glucocorticoid therapy in 32 patients aged (35.2±2.3) years with acute myocarditis after COVID-19 infection and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40 % are presented. All patients were prescribed a 3-month course of methylprednisolone at a daily dose of 0.25 mg/kg, followed by a gradual dose reduction of 1 mg per week until complete withdrawal 6 months after the start of treatment.Results and discussion. The analysis of the results of the examinations was performed in the 1st month from the onset of myocarditis to the appointment of glucocorticoids and after 6 months of observation. Six months later, the end-diastolic volume index decreased by 18.5 %, the left ventricular ejection fraction increased by 23.8 %, and the longitudinal global systolic straine increased by 39.8 %. On cardiac MRI, the number of left ventricular segments affected by inflammatory changes decreased from 6.22±0.77 to 2.89±0.45 segments, and the number of segments with fibrotic changes did not change significantly. After 6 months of treatment, there was a significant decrease in the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and cardiospecific antibodies.Conclusions. The use of a 6-month course of glucocorticoid therapy in patients with myocarditis that developed after COVID-19 infection improved the contractility of the left ventricle against the background of a significant reduction in inflammatory lesions of the left ventricle and reduced concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and cardiospecific antibodies.